AN OPEN LETTER TO HYPOCRITE FINTAN O'TOOLE OF IRISH TIMES
Fintan, as you know ‘silence’ is a double-edged sword and one you wield expertly. For over forty years Irish Times has managed to keep a lid on the scandalous behaviour of rogue elements in ITGWU at Belfast Docks. ‘Rogue’, as in the Union sided with the employers against their own members – and Irish Times effectively ‘sent to Coventry’ anyone who tried to highlight this.
In relation to ‘silence’ from your twisted perspective - the heading of your article in Saturday’s paper about sexual abuse in theatre, was a tour de force in obfuscation. I.e. “If theatre is not a safe space, what is left”? In one fell swoop you declared that you know nothing about the abuse of women in the entertainment industry, and in particular at The Gate. You thus fooled Irish Times readers into thinking your comments were believable and well intentioned. Nothing could be further from the truth as you are effectively covering up your own cowardice in not exposing this scandal. As Arts Editor of Irish Times for many years you are neither deaf, dumb or blind – so were well aware of the ear splitting klaxon of gossip regarding ‘The Gate’ and the behaviour of - “its charismatic and highly successful director”. Your words.
As an ordinary member of Attic Studio [before they expelled me for wanting to stage ‘The Judas Goat’] the goings on at the gate regarding Michael Colgan’s treatment of women were common knowledge and spoken about openly.
Last week the award you and Irish times were given should’ve been for Censorship and support of Jack O’Connor. How much longer must the public wait before the scandal of a trade union that sacked its own members, is exposed? Another 40 years? In a supposed liberal society for a so-called ‘free and unfettered newspaper’ like Irish Times to dictate what people should know –and read about, is a corruption of Democracy.
When Weinstein’s behaviour and abuse of women became public-knowledge, you could no longer ignore the vulgar uttering of a sexual nature, by Colgan. As further proof of your sham sincerity you cite several other perpetrators and ask? “The real question is this: how has silence prevailed for so long in a world full of brilliant, articulate, demonstrative people?” Is there no limit to your megalomania? Why are you blaming the victims ?
Fintan, you believe like Michael Colgan and George Hook that you are too important to touch - and then to cover up for the disgraceful statement you made - give yourself an ‘out’ by proclaiming - “The answer is of course power, and vulnerability: godlike bosses on the one side and on the other people with no security of employment”. Like a woman hating worm on a hook, you wriggle. Are Irish Times editors so in thrall to your skewed philosophy they can't see your blatant contradictions and thus your sly and underhand attack on women - who complain. In what world do you reside when you believe, "brilliant, articulate demonstrative people are vulnerable with no security of employment"? Fintan, the world and women have moved on - from getting a pat on the head from you. Instead of your "silence" - which by ignoring and condoning it - your self centered, articulate, demonstrative brilliance could have stopped Colgan, years ago.
The mind boggles at your shameful attempt to garner compassion for your point of view, and you continue. “It’s actually the same answer that applies to much less glamorous worlds.” I presume you mean the ones without the “charismatic and highly successful directors”.
Why did you feel the need to put the boot into victims? Are you unconsciously making excuses for your own silence regarding the treatment of the Gate women? Fintan, you and Irish Times know all about censorship - and the quashing of unpalatable truths to suit your holier than thou attitudes is deplorable, disgusting and so Victorian.
Your final paragraph stands the truth on its head and is testament to your papers ability to ignore wrongdoing. “But it points to the larger reality: if this behaviour and this silence can take root in the free space of the theatre, they can happen anywhere”. Free space what a joke – was ‘free thinking’ - which is also a confounded lie - too much hypocrisy for even you to imply? Theatre is controlled by an elite of SIPTU supporters who will do anything to quell the truth about past behaviour.
I believe in Trade Unionism when it supports workers – and not union leaders who pay themselves telephone number salaries from members contributions.
Fintan, many Irish Times readers will take your article and the ‘silence’ you speak of at face value - but some may ask this question? ‘If O’Toole and his paper really believe in exposing silence, all silence’ - why will they not report that Jack O’Connor covers up the fact that his trade union set up a Union and Employers Court to persecute, fine, sack and order Belfast Dockers to discharge Asbestos without protection to save the employers money?
However Fintan, if you and Irish Times ever feel like reporting the truth about Belfast Docks - alongside this, you could expose the censoring of ‘The Judas Goat’ by Attic Studio and the wider artistic community - which is about these events? Although you may find this really difficult to do - because they are following your lead.
Proof of censorship of this play is all over the web, and in particular on ‘Historic Censorship from Largest Trade Union in Ireland’, on Linkedin, in which I name ‘some’ of the people from the Arts. I know of others - but will only name names when I have the proof.
In relation to sexual abuse, Fintan, you ask, “how has silence prevailed for so long”? I presume your tongue was firmly in cheek when you asked this. To answer your question on both counts, I suggest that you and Irish Times editors look in the mirror. And for documentary proof of your silence on Belfast Docks - go to the information website www.siptupresidentjackoconnorexposed.com
Fintan, as you well know and agree with, the Arts are controlled by an autonomous elite of SIPTU supporters who cherry-pick with taxpayers money which plays to support, so not to expose and embarrass Jack O’Connor and the Union.
After two Readings of ‘Daddy’, and ‘The Grandeur of Delusions’, which were successfully staged – and one Reading of ‘The Judas Goat’, then named ‘One Big Onion’ – I proposed at a meeting to recruit actors from the membership to stage the play myself – and was expelled without explanation. Unbeknownst to me at the time, Attic Studio was performing ten plays in Liberty Hall, six of which would go to New York. What a coincidence! Full details on Linkedin and in the opening pages of the quoted website.
Fintan, silence is silence - no matter what the subject matter is - and it corrupts everything and everyone who practices it. Especially the supposed poster boys and girls in Irish Times who pay lip service to freedom of speech and democracy.