Rapper Sues BBC Over Song 'Slur'
Byrne v. British Broadcasting Corporation
The Sun - 4/27/00
DISCLAIMER:
BBC logo used only to identify adversary
TOP rap star Chris Byrne is suing the BBC claiming they used one of his songs to
promote "anti-Irish" sentiments.
The sensational law suit follows the screening of a television documentary about
alleged IRA gun-running.
Former New York cop Byrne, who fronts band Black 47, was furious after
discovering his song Fenians had been played during the programme.
He issued an angry statement saying: "The BBC stole both my work and my
reputation to service their theory that Irish Republicans are fundamentally
dishonest." Now he has lodged papers at the Manhattan Federal Court claiming the
recording was used without his permission to deliver an "anti-Irish message".
Black 47 were formed by Irish-American Byrne and Wexford-born musician Larry
Kirwan in New York during the mid-1980s.
The band - named after the worst year of the Great Famine - became one of the
most popular acts on the New York gig scene.
Earlier this year they performed at the city's St Patrick's Day festivities.
The BBC has refused to comment on the lawsuit.
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