Paul sets off at 10am from Mizen Head on Thursday 6 May
Blasphemy man begins long protest
An atheist is to walk the length of Ireland to protest against the Republic’s new blasphemy law.
Paul Gill, a former social worker from Donegal will set off on his 625km trek on Wednesday.
He is protesting against a new clause in the Defamation Act 2009 that makes blasphemy a crime punishable by a fine of up to 25,000 euros. He said: “Theological thought crimes are draconian and dangerous, they belong in the past.”
Mr Gill told BBC News he wants to use the walk to create a platform for debate, and promote the idea of a secular constitution in Ireland.
He said: “In a historical context protest walks have been an effective way of demonstrating your beliefs, rights, concerns to the public at large in the hope of generating action.
“I believe a vigorous walk in the countryside beats any religion or superstition.”
A Buncrana man who is enraged that a blasphemy law has been introduced in Ireland says he’ll walk the length and breadth of the country in protest to it.
Paul Gill, originally from Manchester, but who has roots in Buncrana, plans on pounding the pavements from Mizen Head to Malin Head in a bid to generate awareness of the law he says ‘criminalises people’s freedom of speech’.
3 Comments
Good luck Paul. If you need a walking partner in Carlow or Dublin I’ll try my best to be there.
Great going Paul, I will be praying for you…LOL, ok maybe not..but I do wish the best to you. I’ll share a pint with you in spirit!
met you this morning (scrambled eggs!) best of luck with your walk hope it goes well for you! you dead right doing it, its the daftest law i’ve ever heard!!!