Controversial Irish singer Sinead O’Connor is set to become the first victim of Ireland’s proposed new blasphemy laws according to gamblers on popular Irish bookmaker Paddy Power.
Under new proposals from Ireland’s Minister for Justice, Dermot Ahern, blasphemy could end up costing you €100,000 ($133,000).
In a new section in Ireland’s Defamation Bill, the minister wants to insert a clause saying: “A person who publishes or utters blasphemous matter shall be guilty of an offense and shall be liable upon conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding €100,000.”
Irish bookmaker Paddy Power, the most popular of its kind in Ireland, is offering odds of 1/3 for the bill to be amended, and 2/1 that the amended bill will be passed into Irish law.
But the blasphemy betting doesn’t stop there. Paddy Power, who’s offered bets in the past on whether Susan Boyle will pose for Playboy, and if a Communist revolution will occur in Ireland, is asking betters to place their wagers on the Irish celebrity who will be charged first under the new blasphemy law.
The most popular pick?
None other than Pope picture-tearing Sinead O’Connor, which isn’t a surprise, given that in the proposed bill, blasphemous matter is defined as material that is “grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters held sacred by any religion, thereby causing outrage among a substantial number of the adherents of that religion.”
Needless to say, if O’Connor repeats anything like the stunt she pulled on “Saturday Night Live,” when she tore a picture of Pope John Paul II in two, she’ll be the first to fork over the €100,000 fine.
A Paddy Power spokesperson said: “Poor Sinead is the punters favorite to be first to fall foul of this ludicrous law should it get passed. I’m just happy that our Last Supper advertising campaign was a couple of years ago. According to this law I’d end up in the clink with the key thrown away!”
Paddy Power has set her odds at 3/1.
The controversial Irish singer may be the favorite, but there are some more big names on the list of candidates.
Next in line is infamous ex-priest Neil Horan at 7/2, followed by popular outspoken Irish funnyman Tommy Tiernan at 8/1.
Then there’s Irish TV presenter Gerry Ryan, Irish radio personality Joe Duffy and Irish-American comedian Des Bishop coming in at 10/1.
The least likely of Paddy Power’s celebrity lineup to blaspheme? Why the sainted Bono, of course, with odds at 18/1 that he’ll violate the proposed law.
Comments