As Suzy correctly points out, the El Paso furore is not related to matters of free speech. We are all entitled to free speech so long as we don't break any law while exercising this right.

Unfortunately, she goes on to possibly committ the very crime that she is passing judgement on when she says that EPT have... "little regard for the law". If El Paso did win any hypothetical libel case against this country singer (justification would be a good defence), would Suzy find herself in hot water with her comments?

Libellous remarks get made every day in Irish blogs and people don't even realise it.

El Paso now claim it was all an April Fool's hoax. I was sceptical at first. But I'm coming round to believing that it was a genuine hoax. If this is the case, the journalist involved in writing this story has a lot to answer for. Did she make provisions for El Paso's right to reply? Who was the Garda source? Is it a real Garda source or made up?

This is going to go on and on. If it was a hoax, it's up there with the War of the Worlds Invasion.

UPDATE: Fergal Crehan over at Tuppenceworth gives his two cents.

Published by Colm.