STEPHEN Fry is being investigated by Irish police under blasphemy laws after he described God as an “utter maniac” two years ago, it has been claimed.
The complaint is claimed to be in relation to comments made by the British star on an episode of Gay Byrne’s The Meaning of Life, shown in January 2015.
A video clip of the interview has been viewed over seven million times on state broadcaster RTÉ’s YouTube channel.
A conviction can lead to a fine of up to €25,000 (£21,000).
Asked on the programme in 2015 what he would say to God if he had the chance, Fry told host Gay Byrne answered: “I’d say ‘bone cancer in children? What’s that about?’
“How dare you create a world in which there is such misery that is not our fault. It’s not right. It’s utterly, utterly evil.
“Why should I respect a capricious, mean-minded, stupid God who creates a world which is so full of injustice and pain? That’s what I’d say.”
Fry said if he met the Gods of Ancient Greece he would be more accepting, because “they didn’t present themselves as being all seeing, all wise, all beneficent”.
“Because the god who created this universe, if it was created by God, is quite clearly a maniac, an utter maniac, totally selfish.”
He added: “We have to spend our lives on our knees thanking him. What kind of god would do that?”
The Irish Independent reports that the anonymous complainant said they were asked by garda if they were personally offended by Fry’s comments on God.
“I told the garda that I did not want to include this as I had not personally been offended by Fry’s comments – I added that I simply believed that the comments made by Fry on RTÉ were criminal blasphemy and that I was doing my civic duty by reporting a crime,” they said.
After 18 months without a reply, the complainant wrote to Garda Commissioner Noirín O’Sullivan and was informed that their complaint was being looked into.
“The garda then took a formal written statement from me in which I quoted Fry’s comments in detail. This written statement mentioned both Fry and RTÉ specifically.”
A garda spokesperson told The Irish Post that they would not be commenting on an “on-going investigation”.
After making his comments in 2015, Stephen Fry spoke about the mater on BBC Radio 4: “I was astonished that it caused so viral an explosion on Twitter and elsewhere. I’m most pleased that it’s got people talking,” he said.
“I was merely saying things that many finer heads than mine have said for hundreds of years, as far back as the Greeks ... I never wished to offend anybody who is individually devout or pious, and indeed many Christians have been in touch with me to say that they are very glad that things should be talked about.”
Gay Byrne, who hosted The Meaning Of Life program, said: “Of course [Fry] hadn’t wished to cause offense. But that’s what the internet is for, controversy, debate and people’s opinions.”
When Contacted by The Irish Post for comment, a representative of the comedian said: "Stephen Fry is is not offering any comments whilst this issue is under examination."
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