The editor of the current affairs magazine Magill has resigned, citing "issues arising out of the current controversy surrounding In Dublin magazine".
Ms Emily O'Reilly said last night that she had become aware of information relating to "health studio" advertisements in Magill's sister publication which disturbed her.
While she had always been aware of the In Dublin advertisements, "there are levels of knowing and levels of awareness and what has come out over the last few days has disturbed me greatly."
While In Dublin is published by KCD (Dublin) Ltd and Magill is published by another company, both are part of the Hoson stable of publications, run by Mr Mike Hogan. Even though Magill and In Dublin were published by two different companies, "there is a linkage," Ms O'Reilly said. Journalists could not "sit on the fence when controversies come to their own doorstep."
She would have felt "constrained" in investigating the controversy as editor of Magill, even though she had "the utmost regard" for Mr Hogan, who had "behaved impeccably" towards both herself and the magazine.
In Dublin was banned for six months last week by the Censorship of Publications board because some of its editions "have usually or frequently been indecent or obscene".
The ban is believed to have been related to advertisements for "health studios" carried by the magazine.
In Dublin has been cited by gardai in the Dublin District Court as a publication in which prostitutes advertise.
However, it has not been suggested by gardai that the publishers of the magazine were aware that such services were involved.
A magazine called Dublin was published last week by Hoson. It is identical in typography, design and editorial flavour to the banned In Dublin. It also features advertisements for so-called health studios. Hoson has sought a judicial review of the ban, due to be heard in the High Court tomorrow.
A statement issued on behalf of Hoson last night said the company had accepted Ms O'Reilly's resignation "with regret". The company thanked her for "the very substantial contribution" she made to Magill.
Hoson was grateful that Ms O'Reilly had agreed to stay on to edit the September issue of the magazine.
Ms O'Reilly was appointed editor of Magill in December last year, having been political editor of the Sunday Business Post since May 1994. She was political correspondent of the Irish Press and also worked on the Sunday Tribune, RTE and Radio Ireland. She is the author of Masterminds of the Right, Candidate and Veronica Guerin: the Life and Death of a Crime Reporter.
