From top: George Soros; From left, Colm’ O’Gorman, David Quinn and Sean O’Rourke

Amnesty International Ireland has so far resisted demands by the The Standards in Public Office [SIPO]  to return a 137,000 donation to fund a campaign to repeal the Eighth Amendment from Ernst Stavro Blofeld’s George Soros’ Open Society Foundation.

Amnesty Ireland’s Colm O’Gorman appeared on RTÉ Radio One’s Today with Sean O’Rourke this morning alongside David Quinn, whose pro-life Iona Institute has been criticised in the past for accepting foreign donations.

O’ Gorman: “…We are in discussion with the standards in public office about a flawed amendment to the Electoral Act of 2001 that they have acknowledged is deeply flawed and that a decision they made recently is both unjust and , quite likely, contrary to law,

Sean O’Rourke: “Just tell us about the money?

O’Gorman: Well first of all it didn’t come from George Soros. It came from a human rights foundation called the Open Society which was established by a large endowment [$18 billion] from George Soros. Unsurprisingly human rights foundations give money to human rights organisations to do human rights work and that what happened in this case.

We received a donation of 150,294 US dollars – almost a 137,000 euros at the time that we received it- for our work to secure human right compliant framework for abortion in Ireland. We publicly announced that grant. We published details of it on our website in January of 2016 and we got on with our work as we would do as a human rights organisation and as others do.

In Summer of 2016, DC Leaks, The Washington-based entity that put out the hacked material from the DNC hack earlier in the Summer published materiel from a hack from the Open Society Foundation and within that there was a strategy document that talked about how they would fund a number of organisations in Ireland to work on a campaign to repeal the Eighth Amendment. That found its way on to global pro-life websites and found its way into the hands of pro life activists here in Ireland and then it found its way into the Irish media and a story developed on the back of all that.

Following on from that we had a detailed inquiry from the Standards in Public office Commission asking us to clarify the grant, the purpose for which we received it, to forward on to them any correspondence between ourselves and the foundation in relation to the grant. We responded in detail to that request, we supplied them with information that clarified that we had received the grant from the Open Society’s Foundation in New York, the amount of the grant received and exactly what the grant would be used to do. So, we made it clear that the grant would be used to fund a campaign, to part fund a campaign to ensure a human rights compliant framework for abortion in Ireland and that would mean the repeal of the Eighth Amendment, changes in law. We then set out very, clearly…”

O’Rourke [interrupting]:. “OK That’s the case you’ve made at length.”

O’Gorman: “No in a page and a half summary we set out very clearly the activities that would flow from that and at that point SIPO responded to say that on the basis of all that information we were not required to register the third party and that was on the 13th of October, 2016.”

O’Rourke: “But the position has been reversed.”

O’Gorman: “A year later they reverse that decision with a month to go before that campaign ends and when, indeed as people will appreciate, we have gotten on and done the work that was funded and ruled legitimate a year ago..”.

O’Rourke: “David Quinn, what’s wrong with all or any of that?”

David Quinn: “Well SIPO has said that what Amnesty is doing is in breach of the law. And Amnesty has said ‘we’re not going to obey the law’.”

O’Rourke: “Nope, we haven’t”

Quinn: “Well no in your statement you said you believe that Irish law breaches international human rights protocols and that you don’t agree with the law and you think it is far too restrictive. I happen to agree that the electoral act is far too restrictive. I think it’s far too restrictive around issues of donations but you can’t hold yourself above the law.

I mean I have been asked so many times as a director of Iona, ‘where are you getting your money from?’ and ‘Are you SIPO compliant?’ and the answer is ‘we are Sipo compliant’. I am asked: ‘Do you get money from America?’. We do not get money from America, unless you count an Irishman giving us 100 a month by standing order.”

O’Gorman: “Then you do take money from America?”

Quinn: “Well, it’s hardly…a 100 a month by standing order doesn’t compare with a hundred…

O’Gorman: “Hang on, David…”

Quinn: “You’ve had plenty of time to speak. One hundred and thirty seven thousand from Geroge Soros’ foundation, the Open Society and the same amount, by the way, to two other pro choice organisations. We are continually hounded about whether we get foreign funding and we field plenty of calls from journalists about this.

On this particular issue the media by and large, this programme being an exception because here we are debating it. and also the politicans have been the dog that didn’t bark. They have said practically nothing about this.

When Declan Ganley appeared on the scene in 2007 to campaign against the first Lisbon Treaty he was hounded from here to kingdom come about where he was getting his money from and whether it was foreign-sourced and was told continually that he was breaking the law – and he was SIPO-compliant – and this story went on for about a year.

The Irish Times pursued it. RTÉ pursued it. Prime Time had a big documentary about it and here we have no fuss whatsoever about this story. It has been treated by the media about as important as tax evasion by a minor celeb.”

O’Rourke: “On the question of the ruling by SIPO [ to Mr O’Gorman] you don’t like it. You say it’s a reversal of the position adopted a year ago but nonetheless they have a statutory responsibility to implement the law and presumably you beleive in adhering to the law?”

O’Gorman: “We believe in the rule of law absolutely and we believe that this decision by SIPO is deeply flawed on a number of levels. First of all, we think the principle upon which they have approached the law is deeply flawed and likely illegal if not under Irish law at least under international law.. .

O’Rourke: “Why don’t you see a judicial review?”

O’Gorman: “What I have said is, we will not comply with the instruction because it gravely violates freedoms and human rights.”

O’Rourke: “Who is the arbiter?”

O’Gorman: “…and that we will consider and use every available means that we can to challenge that decision. That clearly includes considering whether or not and if and how a legal challenge to that decision is the most appropriate way to do so. It is absolutely our right or anyone else’s right in this Ireland who if they have been the subject of an administrative decision by a regulator that they feel in unjust or unlawful to initially indicate…

O’Rourke: “But why don’t you take the view that you will challenge it as opposed to saying you won’t comply with it?”

O’Gorman: “What do you mean…Of course we’re challenging it as I have just said…”

O’Rourke: “No, you said you won’t comply.”

O’Gorman: “Sean, we have repeatedly made it clear that we will challenge this by every means necessary. Now if people want to take a sentence and take it out of context and try and make a big drama out of it to get a bang too on radio, I’m not suggesting you are doing that, but that’s a matter for them. We’ve been really clear about our position. Now I want to respond to some of the things David said. First of all, it is not true that the three organisations got similar amounts. One of the organisations got a very small amount, was subject to the threat of criminal prosecution by SIPO and then returned it.:

Quinn: “This is the Abortion Rights Campaign?”

O’Gorman: “The Abortion Rights Campaign…but that’s actually not true..”

Quinn: “But it is nevertheless foreign funding for a political campaign…

[talk over each other]

O’Gorman: That’s one of the things you said that wasn’t true. The next thing that isn’t true..

Quinn: “You are being pedantic. They were receiving money from a foreign source for a political campaign which is against the electoral act.”

O’Gorman: If you make a point and it’s inaccurate I’m perfectly entitles to correct you. That was wrong.”

Quinn: “It was in breach of the law that’s why it was handed back.”

O’Gorman: “The next point is that if you are accepting an overseas donation, albeit from an irish citizen who is living in the states, that is a breach of the electoral act..”

Quinn: “If it’s for a political purpose.”

O’Gorman: “It is also the case that wehn Iona launched a campaign seeking funds for itsd Marriage Equality referendum in 2014 and suggesting for instance if we can get a 100 people to give us a 100 euros each…

Quinn: “It was SIPO compliant. You are not SIPO-compliant.”

O’Gorman: “Not when you launched the appeal, not when you were challenged about whether or not you would be SIPO compliant, you initially refused to register with SIPO.”

Quinn: “Why are you making it about Iona, We are SIPO compliant.”

O’Gorman: “You are now, David.”

[talk over each other]

O’Rourke:: “Are you drawing an equivalence between him theoretically getting a 100 euros from the states with you getting 137,000?”

O’ Gorman: I am trying to draw a link between someone who is telling us he believes the law is unjust and that we should comply with it? When he is making it very clear that he doesn’t.”

Quinn: We do comply with the law. We are SIPO comploiant. You arenot SIPO compliant and so far you are getting away with it.”

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59 thoughts on “Above The Law

    1. nellyb

      tis his reaction to hearing of irish women of reproductive age. clergy prefers pre-pubescent and post-menopausal females.

  1. Capitan Alatriste

    supposedly Amnesty has lost lots of funding since o’gorman took over. Amnesty was set up to look after prisoners of conscience not to promote gay marriage and abortion.

      1. LW

        +1
        Interesting, given that their fundraising income has increased every year for the past three at least. 18% increase 2014-2015, and 9% up 2016-2017. Maybe the Captain is aware of a huge shortfall this year

        1. snowey

          I think quinn is a reasonable fellow , you mightnt agree with his stance but I find he comes across well

          I’d rather have him for tea than O’Gorman.

  2. gorugeen

    I’m effin sick of RTE giving so much time to that zealot. They represent a tiny, tiny fraction of the population and get bucket loads of airtime.

  3. sparkilicious

    Although I tend towards lefty-liberalism in my own politics, I come out in hives whenever I hear Colm O’Gorman wind-bagging in his po-faced, sanctimonious way. He’s worse than David Quinn in that regard. And that’s saying something.

    1. Brother Barnabas

      sanctimious and po-faced v baleful, hateful and malevolent

      I’ll take the sanctimonious and po-faced any day

        1. snowey

          I don’t think so…as other posters have pointed out.
          Amnesty used to be about something , something I agreed in btw and did occasionally give money to them
          I am pro life and I can’t support Amnesty anymore…

          Whatever way you look at it – abortion is a divisive issue – amnesty have now thrown their hat in the ring on one side and alienated the other.
          All when the basis of operations was something entirely different. People locked up abraod lose out all because O’Gorman and his ilk changed amnesty to be aligned to the mob that believe everything is a human right .
          when logically it can’t be.

          1. Daisy Chainsaw

            I love the way so many antichoicers were fully paid up Amnesty members until Colm O’Gorman came along! Women deserve the same human rights as anyone and Amnesty fights for that all over the world, not just Ireland.

          2. LW

            That’s interesting Snowey, because you didn’t seem to have any problem with Ibrahim Halawa’s long and unfair internment. So Colm O Gorman has managed to swing your previous support for people locked up abroad a full 180 degrees? Quite an achievement

          3. snowey

            firstly I believe in bodily autonomy it is just that I believe in abortion there are two patients..and both should be protected.
            If it’s about human rights – I believe it about 2 lives rather than one.

            I was never a paid up member – I gave a few quid.
            Perhaps I was younger and more naive. LOL
            I wouldn’t be anymore for sure.

            On Ibrahim Halawa simply I don’t believe his story…his tale of woe about how a trip to the cinema accidentally made him the che guevara of this century seems unbelievable to me ..as are stories of hunger strikes etc…but that’s a tangent…
            .I never said that his position – 4 years without trail was proper and correct…he should have been dealt with as soon as

            I did make a point that I felt that other irish people locked up abroad don’t get the same treatment , support in the media or the left wing political parties-. he is a lefty wet dream given the combo of his family origins , irish passport and faith.. – I think that is fair comment to make

            That is nothing to do with o gorman. o Gorman barely got a look in as the politicals like zapone, paul murphy and lynn boylan rushed the front of the queue to collect their internet hi-5’s of righteousness …

    2. Ronán FitzGerald

      I agree, I disagree with Qunn on everything, but on this… I disagree with o’gorman more.. I love(!) how he use political speak when asked if he would break the law….”we will not comply with the instruction” so yes, they will break the law… Why? “Because it gravely violates freedoms and human rights” decided by him…

  4. Ronan

    Hmmmm. I never thought I’d say it, and I’m sure it’s from a position of Iona hypocrisy, and I’m as pro-choice as it gets, but Quinn has a point. It’s outside money, and campaign money in bulk, no matter how you look at it.

    That said, we fund intervention in the developing world readily in terms of access to healthcare, and we’re not above requiring it, and abortion is for me a matter of healthcare, bodily autonomy and human rights.

    But it’s a tricky position, and while I don’t think SIPO should be allowed to flip flop (in fact, I suspect Skullduggery here), O’Gorman is flouting the rules based on nothing other than an assumed high moral ground.

    1-0 to David Quinn, these are slick operators – using the very rules they skirt to beat their opponent with

      1. Ronan

        Agreed. I do believe he should be more conciliatory and respectful of the process however, and I’m also not sure it should have been approved in the first place – if for no other reason than it leaves the door open for multiple generous benefactors to openly donate to Iona

        1. LW

          His tone today sounds a bit more measured than what was reported yesterday in fairness. Yeah, I’d definitely prefer to limit external funding for these things too

  5. Kevin Quinn

    I’ve supported Amnesty all my life, took part in many a postcard-writing campaign to put pressure on despots to free political prisoners, collected for them, wrote letters to prisoners of conscience to let them know they had not been forgotten. But the organisation — in Ireland at least –has changed beyond all recognition in recent years, and in my view it has lost its way. It’s a disgrace that they are now involved in political campaigns in Ireland — and I say that who voted for marriage equality and against the 8th amendment the first time round (and I’m still against it being in my constitution) — because that is not their job.

    This latest episode is the tin hat on it — we do NOT want foreign interference in our political process! Just give the money back immediately! Does Colm O’Gorman not grasp how arogant and sanctimonious he sounds when he says he will use every thing at his disposal to keep the money?

    This is why Hillary Clinton lost to that eejit Trump. The best thing Amnesty Ireland and Colm O’Gorman could do for the repeal campaign between now and referendum day is not utter another word.

    1. Nigel

      I’ve never heard anything so ridiculous said with apparent sincerity. All the good and vital work AI does undone because it’s tangled with an overbroad financing law? I call shenanigans on every comment of thus nature. Idiocy.

      1. f_lawless

        Nigel I ‘d be interested to hear what your take is on the testimony of Francis Boyle, a professor of international law, who served as a member of Amnesty USA’s board of directors during the 80s/90s. His time there left him to conclude that:

        “Amnesty International and AIUSA function as tools for the imperialist, colonial and genocidal policies of the United States, Britain, and Israel..There are many people of good will and good faith working at the grassroots level of Amnesty International and AIUSA who genuinely believe that they are doing meaningful and effective work to protect human rights around the world. But at the top of these two organizations you will find a self-perpetuating clique of co-opted Elites who deliberately shape and direct the work of AI and AIUSA”.

        Surely when a once top-level Amnesty insider has made such grave claims, it’s at least pause for thought that maybe the full story of Amnesty might not be what it’s generally assumed to be?
        Full statement here: http://www.countercurrents.org/boyle231012.htm

        1. Nigel

          Sounds like AI has made a lot of enemies who will constantly attack and undermine them, aided by people on the left for whom nobody else is ever pure enough.

          1. MoyestWithExcitement

            “aided by people on the left for whom nobody else is ever pure enough”

            You were using the words ‘centrist’ and neoliberal as a pejorative a few months ago. Now you’re mindlessly parroting their slogans. Not at all surprising though. You actually *are* a virtue signaller. No opinions. You just want to be popular.

    1. gerry

      No it’s not that simple and that’s not the way things work in a democracy. The legal system allows for decisions to be challenged. Different interpretations of laws are common and the courts are there to deal with these.

  6. Ben Redmond

    That radio debate was a hectic tennis volley. Not sure which of them won game point, but we’re still far from game, set and match.

    1. bisted

      …despite all the bluff and bluster, it’s surprising how similar these two are and while they may have different vested interests they are both in the pocket of those interests…

      1. Ben Redmond

        It’s their arguments made in the heat of a radio debate that count with a listening audience, not the vested interests you say they are in the pockets of.

  7. Frilly Keane

    According to @pressfreedom
    Via AJ
    The number of Journalists currently in prison – as a result of their work is at an all time high

    That’s the sorta stuff Amnesty Ireland used ta’ get us talking about ….

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