Republican Rapper Wins Right To Fight BBC In America
Byrne v. British Broadcasting Corporation
The Sunday Times - 3/4/01
DISCLAIMER:
BBC logo used only to identify adversary
BBC Northern Ireland has lost the first round of a lawsuit brought by a republican rap singer. Chris Byrne, a former New York policeman and an Irish-American hip-hop artist, is suing it for using the lyrics of his song Fenians without permission.
The song featured in a Spotlight programme in October 1999 about IRA gunrunning in Florida. Byrne, who has sung at benefit gigs for IRA members fighting extradition from America, claims that by overlaying his lyrics over images of New York, the Beeb was associating him with an "anti-Irish" message in the programme.
In a New York court last week, a judge ruled that the BBC did have a case to answer and that the hearing should be in America. The station wanted to fight in Britain.
Martin Dillon, a former BBC producer, is testifying on Byrne's behalf. His affidavit states that in the nationalist and republican communities "the BBC widely has been seen as an integral part of British/unionist rule in Northern Ireland. There is considerable antipathy toward the BBC in the nationalist and republican communities".
Controversial, and a flavour of the bitter battle that may lie ahead. Byrne has said he wants the BBC to be put "on trial" over its coverage of Northern Ireland. More details of this case can be found on his lawyers' website at rsmithlaw.com.
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