Ruane in racist film row outrage

11/26/2008 - By Chris Porter

A SHOCKING racist short film which depicted the simulated rape of a black man and viewed by Education Minister Caitriona Ruane has caused uproar in the city.

Ms Ruane was one of three judges at De X-Factor final in the Canal Court Hotel on Thursday night who saw the video by the Soggy Saval Boys as part of their entry in the popular talent fundraiser.

However the audience including the south Down MLA was stunned into silence as the film featured extreme violence, a burning cross in front of a house akin to those once placed by the Klu Klux Klan, and the scandalous simulated raping of a painted-up black man gagged with an apple in his mouth.

Ms Ruane, who was judging the final alongside GAA legends Benny Tierney and Ross Carr, reportedly objected to the film later in the show, describing it as a disgrace which had no place in the competition.

However it is understood that some of the crowd was horrified that the Education Minister continued to participate in the night, and did not illustrate her disgust by leaving the hotel.

In a statement issued yesterday to the Democrat, Ms Ruane said: "I am enjoying my time as a judge on the GAA X Factor and have been extremely impressed by the quality of the acts on offer, all of whom have performed magnificently in what is a keenly contested competition.

"The audience had differing views on the performances and I enjoyed some acts more than others, which I made clear in my comments as one of the judges."

Shocked audience members have since raised their objections calling it "absolutely terrible", "pretty rough" while another said: "It (the film) went down like a lead balloon and no-one laughed or cheered."

De X Factor organiser Pat Loy, who directed and produced all the entrants' films, believes the message of the video was misconstrued and that it was made to highlight that racist behaviour still exists.

"The whole idea of that scene was to highlight racism," he said. "Everybody going to that event had to fill in a disclaimer before they went and everybody was made aware that it was going to be in nature a controversial type of event and it was an opportunity for people to present their idea of whatever video they wanted about life.

"The video was done as an artistic piece to show the apathy that there is between humans. We are hoping that people would be educated enough to realise that it was an act.

"The way the scenes were cut with the devil in it as well was a clear indication of how evil this type of thing is." Mr Loy added that the film was tongue in cheek and that he stands by it 100 per cent.

The Democrat attempted to contact the Soggy Saval Boys at the time of going to press but was unable to obtain a statement.