Cowangate (geddit?)

So, an anonymous painter (actually Dubliner Conor Casby) who put up two caricatures of our Taoiseach up on the walls of two Art galleries is being investigated. This is in connection with three charges: incitement to hatred, indecency, and criminal damage (for hammering a nail into a wall of the National Gallery).


So RTE news runs a tongue-in-cheek piece on the practical joke, involving a smirking gallery representative and an art valuer and also notes that Cowen "is not thought to have posed for the anonymous artist".



Funny joke, right? Whether or not its a satirical take on his tenure or whatever, the people need a laugh, right? Well, the Government apparently don't think so, so when Today FM's Ray D'arcy found out the identity of this nail-hammering vigilante the police apparently told his producer that “the powers that be want action taken” and he was to hand over all information relating to the incident. Meanwhile, that night, the RTE News ran an apology to the office of the Taoiseach and the Cowen family for "any disrespect" or "personal offense caused".



So someone drew a funny picture of our great leader. Suddenly the media are being strong-armed? I wonder will Ann Doyle be Chloroformed from behind live next time she mentions the recession.