UCC will facilitate Griffin debate

UCC has reportedly confirmed that it will facilitate the Government and Politics Society’s Nick Griffin event, which, it is understood, is now due to take place in late February of next year.

The society’s auditor, Ben English, told TheJournal.ie that the event would not be a defence or a condoning of Griffin’s often racist policy positions, but rather a defence of his right to express himself.

English also said that the society, which he said tried to encourage the politically disinterested to engage in debate, had notified the college that Griffin had accepted their invite.

The UCC event follows after Griffin’s previous scheduled appearance at Trinity was cancelled after the college said that it could not guarantee the safety of the attending public.

Griffin is the leader of the far right British National Party and has a controversial history espousing anti-Islam, anti-immigrant, and Holocaust denying views.

He was arrested for alleged incitement to hatred in 2004.