Frankie Boyle: Protesters call for comedian's gig at Belfast community festival to be cancelled over jokes about people with Down's Syndrome

Organisers of Féile an Phobail are under pressure after the controversial comedian was announced as part of the line-up

Campaigners and disabled charities are calling for Frankie Boyle’s gig at a community festival to be cancelled over jokes he has reportedly made about people with Down’s syndrome.

Féile for Everyone, the group opposed to the comedian’s performance, said it was unacceptable to have Boyle at the Féile an Phobail festival in Belfast because of jokes he made about the way people with Down’s syndrome speak during a stand-up show in 2010.

About 2,000 tickets to the 7 August event have already been sold.

Johnny Lundy, a member of Féile for Everyone, told the BBC it would be “hypocritical” for a community festival to allow Boyle’s performance to go ahead. "This is a community festival," he said. "It's part funded by public money, and it is seeking to mock one of the most vulnerable groups in our society.

"I object to my money being used to make my daughter and others like her the butt of his jokes."

Tom Hartley, one of the founding members of Féile an Phobail, has also criticised the decision to book Boyle.

Mr Hartley, a former Lord Mayor of Belfast and Sinn Fein councillor, told the Belfast Telegraph that having Boyle posed an ethical question for the festival.

"Feile an Phobail emerged from a community with a view of itself,” he said. “It is a difficult one (the booking of Boyle), there is a fine line between freedom of speech and the rights of those with disabilities and Down's syndrome.

"Would, for instance, you invite a comedian that was homophobic, a comedian that was racist? I don't think so. I think Feile will sort this out, they are people with an ethical view of the world."

He joined about 100 protesters who held a demonstration outside of the Feile offices on Saturday. Stephen Hartley Down's Syndrome Support Group and Kids Together Belfast have also reportedly joined the campaign against Boyle’s show.

Boyle has not responded directly to the protests but published a defiant tweet on Friday.

Jo Nawaz, a press officer for Féile an Phobail, said organisers are meeting the group of protesters this afternoon to discuss their concerns.

He told The Independent: “We have taken all kinds of concerns very seriously and spoke to people and a number of groups including Mencap.

“A new protest group were in contact with Féile and a meeting was arranged to talk their concerns through. It wasn’t the festival’s intention to upset anyone. But, it’s been the fastest selling comedy gig that that they have ever put on and that’s the simple fact of the matter.”

The Independent has contacted Boyle’s publicist for comment.