An engineer has argued before the High Court that the Examiner newspaper should be banned for carrying advertisements for "adult massage". The Examiner was the leading newspaper in Ireland "advertising sex", it was alleged.
In an application drawing attention to alleged inconsistencies in decisions of the Censorship of Publications Board, Dr Michael Grimes, of Washington Street West, Cork, applied for leave to challenge, in judicial review proceedings, a decision of the board of November 6th last refusing to consider his complaint that the Examiner should be banned.
Mr Justice Smyth said that he would give his decision this afternoon on Dr Grimes's application for leave to seek a number of orders, including one directing a public hearing by the board of Dr Grimes's complaints regarding certain advertisements in the newspaper, and an order banning the newspaper. Dr Grimes has also sought orders challenging the constitutionality of the Censorship of Publications Act, 1946.
In an affidavit, Dr Grimes referred to advertisements which were "advertising sex for sale and seeking to employ prostitutes" in issues of the Examiner of July 22nd, 26th and 27th, 1999. The heading above the advertisements was "Massage" and one had stated: "Adult massage. New staff. Call in/out." He said that "call in/out" referred to "call girls" and "adult massage" meant the provision of sex by a girl to a man, either in or outside a brothel.
He added: "Massage is sex in almost any form one could dream of, plus a number of forms one could not possibly dream of. In plain English, the Cork Examiner was advertising sex for sale."
Citing other advertisements, Dr Grimes said: "Caribbean beauties, exotic ladies, not to mention Asian, African or, for that matter, Swedish masseuses, are not necessary for therapeutic massage, which in Ireland is normally done by qualified physiotherapists."
Dr Grimes noted that the board had sought to ban In Dublin magazine on the grounds of carrying similar advertisements.
