A tabloid newspaper's pictorial coverage yesterday of an apparent suicide sparked off a renewed exploration of the need for a press council. House leader, Mr Donie Cassidy, scathingly described the publication as "a new low" for an Irish newspaper and he called on the Star to apologise and to undertake never to use such a picture again.
Professing that he had been horrified by the publication, Mr Cassidy said: "It's a disgrace to say the least of it. It is shocking and it is really doing nothing for the massive problem that exists at the present time in relation to the suicides that are taking place." He hoped it would not lead to any further self-inflicted deaths. "I think the Star should come out today and apologise and should say they would never, ever publish a photo like this again."
The coverage was condemned on all sides of the House. Mr Joe Costello (Lab) said it appeared to be a case of blatant voyeurism.
Mr David Norris (Ind) noted that a psychiatrist who headed an organisation dealing with depression and suicide had expressed the view that this kind of publication could lead to copycat suicides.
Seanad deputy leader, Mr John Dardis (PD) said he wanted to know if, prior to this publication, the Star had sought appropriate expert advice. The use of the picture seemed to have been done for sensational reasons and as part of a circulation war. He believed that standards in newspapers in general were falling rapidly.
Mr Brendan Ryan (Ind) said the Star was part of the biggest newspaper group in the State. It was that group's duty to ensure that standards were upheld throughout the industry.
Undertaking that he would try to arrange to have an early debate on "the decline of press standards", Mr Cassidy said it might be timely to consider the urgent need for the establishment of a press council.