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Outrage as rapist Mike Tyson arrives in Belfast
Friday, 6 November 2009
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Women’s rights groups have voiced their opposition to tonight’s controversial appearance in Belfast of convicted rapist Mike Tyson.
The former heavyweight boxing champion will appear along with local boxing legend Barry McGuigan tonight at An Evening with Mike Tyson at the Waterfront Hall.
But protests are expected outside the venue as women’s advocate groups expressed their disgust at the event.
Tyson was jailed for three years in 1993 after being found guilty of the rape of beauty queen Desiree Washington.
Eileen Calder of the Rape Crisis Centre in Belfast criticised McGuigan for agreeing to take part.
“Barry needs to hang his head in shame,” she said.
“I have always been a huge fan of his, I even considered naming one of my children after him. He has done so much great work for charities and integrated education. I can’t believe he has agreed to take part in this.”
Ms Calder said she felt sick when she heard Tyson would be visiting Belfast.
“Believe me, if this was the other way around, he would not even be allowed into the country.
“The United States does not allow convicted rapists in, they are interested in protecting their citizens.
“I would appeal to boxing fans to look beyond his boxing to what he has done — he is a convicted rapist.”
Annie Campbell, director of the Women’s Aid Federation, Northern Ireland, added: “We are disgusted that this man who is a rapist and has committed domestic violence has been invited to appear at a flagship venue in Belfast. It raises serious questions of credibility for those who are on the city council.”
However Gerry Storey, head coach at the prestigious Holy Family Boxing Club in north Belfast and Barry McGuigan’s former trainer, said it was just about the boxing for him.
“Anyone who is going to the event is going because of boxing,” he said.
“Some of the younger ones are hoping to get speaking to Tyson but I don’t see anything else happening.”
A council spokeswoman said: “The booking is from a private promoter who is hiring the hall. Belfast City Council does not have a policy that would prevent this event taking place, as this could be construed as a form of censorship.”
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Comments
21 Comments
the irony is: that over-opinionated woman asks us to look beyond the boxing at tysons life, but its clear she hasn't bothered learning anything about tysons life, the trial, or any of the history - beyond what she probably read in headlines
Posted by reason | 07.11.09, 15:49 GMT
Well done to everyone who voiced concerns about this.... it worked! renews my faith in this place
Posted by butterfly | 06.11.09, 20:03 GMT
Wally you took the words right out of my mouth.
Whether you like him or not Tyson has served his time.
Where's the outrage over the "ex" terrorists now holding govt. jobs or the killers walking free among you?
Posted by toadstool | 06.11.09, 17:08 GMT
Hmm...'panic over'. Mr. Tyson has said 'no' to the Belfast visit. That may please some - but suspect many many more will be upset and vexed - nice point, Roisin.
Posted by R. Storie | 06.11.09, 16:45 GMT
He's not coming now! He has just cancelled! So you've nothing to worry now!!
Posted by Pauline | 06.11.09, 13:56 GMT
Whilst Mike Tyson is a convicted rapist it would be worth while for Eileen Calder to study the evidence of the case. It was very highly publicised at the time that Mike Tyson was being made an example of. I followed the case at the time and as a female I believe there was no case to answer
Posted by Roisin | 06.11.09, 13:24 GMT
The feminazis are again being self-righteous and bigoted against a man who did his time and deserves forgiveness.
Posted by shane o'neill | 06.11.09, 12:38 GMT
Barry McGuigan a local hero, He's from another country is he not, as the unionists would have us believe? Co. Monaghan, ROI??
Posted by Paul | 06.11.09, 12:13 GMT
Wally, that was very well put.
Another point would be that some people need to worry more about their own lifes than spending their live being judgemental of others.
Posted by Bob | 06.11.09, 12:12 GMT
Damn...can understand the anger (mediaspeak; 'outrage') at Mr. Tyson...and also Barry McGuigan for being part of the gig to come, but let me take y'all back to January 2000, when Tyson fought Julius Francis in Manchester. The populist papers screamed, with the broadsheets also making noises of discontent. But wait...remember the fight well, and some of the punters who attended, from football players of half the teams in England (along with the thin, grinning Victoria Beckham), to soap opera dears. What about their 'morals'?
Posted by R. Storie | 06.11.09, 12:07 GMT
P Crowson, if you allow your opinion of someone to change after reading a short news story such as this then your opinion isnt really worth that much. Is it.
Posted by In The Name Of The Fada | 06.11.09, 11:57 GMT
Law professors at Harvard maintain that his trial was one of the grossest miscarriages of justice in American history. Course a "mad-dog" like him deserves it. /rolleyes
Posted by Andrew | 06.11.09, 11:51 GMT
So if someone maintains they are innocent and they have a tough upbringing we should ignore any conviction and potentially forgive them for a crime as disgusting and cowardly as rape?
My issue isn't with the fact that he is in Belfast or not, it's that some people think he deserves some sort of "respect". The guy his very disturbed and has shown that in the ring as well as outside it............
Posted by sandy | 06.11.09, 11:28 GMT
I'm surprised at Barry Mcguigan, I always thought that he was a lovely,level headed man with a nice manner and I had the utmost respect for him. That's changed after reading this.
Posted by P Crowson | 06.11.09, 11:17 GMT
I feel sorry for any victim of rape or sexual assault. It's a terrible crime noone deserves.
However, Mike Tyson has served his time and it's not up to us to continue to punish him. He's already been punished. He's coming here to talk about boxing and nothing else.
We in Northern Ireland don't really have any room to comment on it anyhow. We have former (possibly current) terrorists and murderes as our elected heads. Maybe you'd be better looking closer to home to rid our system of criminals.
My own opinion is that his conviction was dubious anyhow and he has always maintained his innoncence.
Fair play to Mike Tyson for turning his life around.
Posted by Wally | 06.11.09, 10:26 GMT
@ Boxing Fan, he has been convicted. He is a convicted rapist.
Grow up, stop making excuses for someone you'd simply prefer to think is innocent. How many convicted rapists do you think say "yeah fair enough I'm a rapist"?
Posted by Farrah | 06.11.09, 10:05 GMT
I'm not usally one to side with the bra-burning, everything opposing lesbians but she's right - it doesn't matter what you think, he was convicted by a court therefore he IS guilty and legallu I can say he IS a rapist. Belfast shouldn't be supporting that.
Posted by Ryan | 06.11.09, 09:22 GMT
I'm disgusted that Tyson is coming and I'm not a woman. I just like to be extremely disgusted at things which might be possible to be disgusted at.
Posted by A. Disgusted Geezer | 06.11.09, 09:11 GMT
these women make me sick, are their lives that pathetic that they feel the need to protest, there should be a red carpret rolled for iron mike whereever he goes.
Posted by Aidan | 06.11.09, 08:57 GMT
Boxing fan, it is highly irrelevant that Tyson maintains his innocence. He was found guilty of rape in a law court- a dispicable, vile offence that unfortunately many perverts walk away from scot free due to the reknowned difficulty to prove due to evidence and often taking someones word over anothers. Equally vile are the women who make it up- however they are in a very tiny minority. If he was found guilty there would have to have been good reason. Although you may be a boxing fan I doubt very much you were in the court during proceedings so take your bias and do one.
Posted by soarer | 06.11.09, 08:52 GMT
21 Comments