RTÉ has refused to broadcast advertisements for a religious group encouraging people to change their lifestyles and which is promoted by top world-ranking and Ryder Cup golfer Bernhard Langer, the High Court has heard.
Mr Seamus Ó Tuithail, SC, counsel for Zion Trust which carries out its activities under the title "Power to Change", told Mr Justice White yesterday that RTÉ had reneged on a contract to broadcast advertisements for the trust.
He said that scripts for more than 100 advertisements, due to be broadcast between next Monday and October 20th, had been accepted by RTÉ. However, at the last minute, the national broadcaster had refused a €110,000 bank draft payment for the ads and had pulled the plug on the Power to Change campaign.
Mr Ó Tuithail, with Mr John Smith, said the RTÉ contract was the centrepiece of a €1.8 million mass media drive to promote change in people's lifestyles. It had the backing of, but was independent from, the four main churches.
He said Bernhard Langer and Mr Michael McGoldrick, father of a murdered Portadown taxi driver, were featured in the 30-second advertisements talking about changes which had taken place in their lives.
Mr Ó Tuithail said the Broadcasting Act had been amended in 2001 allowing advertising of religious ceremonies and permitting religious periodicals to advertise their availability for sale or supply, provided they did not address the merits of adhering to any religious faith or of becoming a member of any religious organisation.
He said the aim of the campaign was to inform people of the availability of a free book and CD information pack.
In one advertisement Bernhard Langer says: "You would think when you've just had the greatest success you'd be at the top of the world and very happy. I was happy but I also felt there was something missing. There was still a void inside me. Life's been so much better since, because now I have peace and patience and a confidence I never had before."
Mr Ó Tuithail said that in a second advertisement Mr McGoldrick says, over footage of his son's graduation and funeral, "Our only child had been murdered. He was our whole world. I said, 'Bridie, we'll never smile again.' Before they put the lid on Michael's coffin I wrote him on an envelope 'forgive them'. I couldn't forgive people for murdering my child but I am living proof that people can change."
The advertisements then invited viewers to call for the free book and CD. The trust was granted leave to serve RTÉ with short notice of its intention to seek injunctions restraining the station from breaching its contract and directing it to broadcast the advertisements.