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10/12/2008
ASA Reject 'Father Ted' Complaint
Father Jack's favourite catchline, Feck Off! has been deemed merely a 'mild rebuke' by the Advertising Standards Authority.
The RTE TV comedy show character, who plagued the eponymous Father Ted, wasn't deemed to be offensive by regulators who this week told those angered at the use of the phrase 'feck off' in an advert to back-off.
The phrase was not a swear word, it said.
Cider drink Magners had used the phrase on a campaign poster in which an orchard farmer is quoted as saying "feck off bees".
The instruction was described as a "mild rebuff" by the company.
ASA agreed, ruling it suitable to be used in public and seen by all ages.
However, ASA spokesman said: "The use of the word 'feck' in Britain has been popularised by TV programmes such as Father Ted.
"We considered that the tone of the ad was not aggressive or threatening. The term 'feck' was unlikely to be seen as a swear word."
The word has been in popular parlance for over 500 years and has been used to mean "effect", "quantity" or "value" or "amount".
But advertisers have been warned to tread carefully when using the word in future advertisements.
(BMcC)
The RTE TV comedy show character, who plagued the eponymous Father Ted, wasn't deemed to be offensive by regulators who this week told those angered at the use of the phrase 'feck off' in an advert to back-off.
The phrase was not a swear word, it said.
Cider drink Magners had used the phrase on a campaign poster in which an orchard farmer is quoted as saying "feck off bees".
The instruction was described as a "mild rebuff" by the company.
ASA agreed, ruling it suitable to be used in public and seen by all ages.
However, ASA spokesman said: "The use of the word 'feck' in Britain has been popularised by TV programmes such as Father Ted.
"We considered that the tone of the ad was not aggressive or threatening. The term 'feck' was unlikely to be seen as a swear word."
The word has been in popular parlance for over 500 years and has been used to mean "effect", "quantity" or "value" or "amount".
But advertisers have been warned to tread carefully when using the word in future advertisements.
(BMcC)
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17 April 2008
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The father of the legendary Belfast soccer star, the late George Best, has died at the age of 88. Dickie Best had been in hospital for the past four weeks. His family, who were with him when he passed away at the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald, have described him as "irreplaceable".
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17 June 2005
Exhibition explores notion of forgiveness
An exhibition exploring the idea of forgiveness in the face of atrocity has opened in Northern Ireland.
Exhibition explores notion of forgiveness
An exhibition exploring the idea of forgiveness in the face of atrocity has opened in Northern Ireland.
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Showers will gradually die out during the evening. A cold night with long clear spells leading to a touch of frost in places. Light winds. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
