Irish Voice/Irish Central publisher Niall O'Dowd announced his intentions to run for the Aras recently. With some serious political connections stateside, O'Dowd has become one of the leading voices of the Diaspora in America. However, O'Dowd has raised a few eyebrows with some of the sports journalism he has published in recent months, specifically regarding 'the well-known Irish sports journalist' at centre of a whirlwind of media gossip. O'Dowd's publications have always lacked a sensationalistic or tabloid angle, but interestingly, O'Dowd's Irish Central is one of the only media outlets to follow the Sunday's World's lead and name a well-known sports journalist who they allege is being investigated by the Gardai. (Google search: 'Irish Central well-known sports journalist' to read more.) What agendas or interests could be inspiring O'Dowd and Irish Central to buck the standard Irish journalistic protocol regarding the naming of people who may be suspected in criminal cases is anyone's guess. Certainly Irish Central's location in America should not exempt them from following such protocol. Either way, I think it's worth echoing the sentiments of Irish Central commenter ohrightyeah on one of their stories 'naming' the well-known sports journalist:
"On a separate issue, I don't think it's right that he was named, either on here or by the Sunday World. It's usual in trials of this nature in Ireland that the perpetrator is not named in order to protect the identity of the young victim, unless that victim and her parents waive the right to anonymity. By naming him like this, the poor girl at the centre of it all, must now be dealing with the extra hassle of the media spotlight."
I'd like to hear Vincent Browne question O'Dowd on this issue.
