The Dublin radio station FM104 has apologised for broadcasting a racist joke after a complaint was made to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission (BCC).
The BCC outlined the complaint in its most recent decisions, which were published today.
One of the two complaints that were upheld involved the Open Micprogramme on FM 104 on February 10th, 2008, during the which, the BCC said, a caller "proceeded to tell a highly racist and derogatory joke" about a black baby in which the presenter responded "in a light-hearted manner".
The BCC said the presenter's response to a joke about paedophilia was similar.
"By permitting such jokes on air, the broadcaster did not exercise due care to ensure that listeners were protected from undue offence. Further, the content was totally discriminatory and derogatory and could be considered to condone discrimination against a section of the community based on race," the commission concluded.
In its apology, FM104 said the material should not have been broadcast under any circumstance, and that disciplinary proceedings have commenced with the broadcaster concerned.
The board of the BCC met on April 7th to consider and/or adjudicate upon 23 complaints. Two complaints were upheld, five were deferred for further consideration and the other 16 complaints were rejected.
