Our illusions about the commitment of this university to free speech have rather abruptly been shattered. --

 Monday, November 4, 2002

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Trinity College Dublin cancels planned talk by David Irving

Students at Trinity College Dublin's Historical Society have today informed David Irving:

On Friday afternoon we received the following communication from the head of security here in college:

" A visit to College by Mr. Irving [sic] a number of years ago was cancelled for security and safety reasons. While I am sure that the Historical Society and the vast majority of the college community would act in a responsible manner during this proposed visit, it is well known that there are various elements within and outside College who would use every means at their disposal to disrupt the visit. I have to take into account the safety of every person on campus (including near to 400 candidates/guests attending a Diploma Awards ceremony that evening) plus the security and care of College buildings and property.

On these grounds, I regret to say, I would not be in favour of this visit taking place."

This letter means, in effect, that although College cannot directly ban the event they wish to do so indirectly by refusing to provide security services for it. Unfortunately, we cannot prevent them from doing this, as security is provided for our meetings at the discretion of the College authorities. We have protested this decision with the utmost vigor, but College is quite immovable.

Subsequent to this letter, we held over the weekend an extraordinary meeting of the Society Committee at which it was decided that we regretfully are not in a position to proceed with the meeting planned for November 19th if the security of our guest, our committee and our audience cannot be provided for.

I wish to take this opportunity to apologise sincerely to you on the behalf of the Society for this turn of events and especially for the inconvenience no doubt caused to you. Our illusions about the commitment of this university to free speech have rather abruptly been shattered.

More information: Robert Lynch, Trinity College Dublin

on this website:

 April 2001: Irving to debate with libel QC at Oxford Union | Oxford Union invites David Irving to speak (again) | Academics threaten to boycott Oxford over Irving speech [Oxford Union debate update, Monday]

 Australian press reports: Oxford slaps ban on Irving

 Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Debating society opts to disinvite Holocaust denier

 Invitation to debate was a travesty, huffs Jewish Chronicle editor (in The Guardian, London's deathwish newspaper)

 Jewish Chronicle gloats: Oxford bar on Irving applauded | editorial: Missing the point

 New York: Jewish Telegraph Agency kvells

 [Previously: debate storm | boycott threat | threat to Oxford Union over Irving appearance]

 [Oxford Student union leaflet]

 [Cherwell: Storm over Irving Invite]

 London Evening Standard: Oxford Union bans Irving from debate on free speech | Editorial: "Error of judgment"

 Daily Telegraph: "Free speech under threat at Oxford Union"

 David Irving's comment on the inevitable rise in anti-semitism that these West Bank methods will cause

 Major new website invites comment on ban on Mr Irving speaking at Oxford Union