PRESS RELEASE

It is with regret that the Literary & Debating Society must announce that the proposed visit of Mr David Irving to the NUI, Galway campus has had to be cancelled due to security concerns and restrictions imposed by the University Authorities.

For the past number of months, the Lit & Deb has been liaising with Mr. Irving, the well known historian and Holocaust revisionist about addressing the Society in a debate regarding the denial of the Holocaust. Following a long period of planning and consultation with the University Authorities to try and organise the event, a communication has been received from Vice-President for Physical Resources, Keith Warnock, in which he stated categorically that “the level of risk (involved with inviting David Irving) was still significant and unacceptable”. As a result, the Lit & Deb has had to rescind its invitation to Mr Irving to come and speak at NUI, Galway and cancel the planned event.

Auditor of the Literary & Debating Society, Ms. Jacqueline Driscoll apologised to students stating that while she appreciates there will be students disappointed “that this event cannot go ahead, the Society is bound by the University Authorities where safety is concerned.” She continued, urging students “to look at the society’s website, www.literaryanddebating.com if they are interested in attending other thought provoking debates on the issues of our time.”

The full statement from the NUIG VP Physical Resources is available here.