Shane MacGowan

A homophobic slur in 'Fairytale of New York' regularly sparks debate. BBC Radio 1 censored or broadcast an edited version at different times, while RTÉ retained the original. MacGowan defended the authenticity of the dialogue while accepting that broadcasters could bleep the word if listeners found it offensive.

State of the evidence

lyrics, radio decisions and MacGowan's responses documented

Legal status — source text

no legal proceedings

Attribution

artistic responsibility as co-writer; the disputed term is spoken by a character in a fictional work

Sinéad O'Connor called the police in 1999, claiming to have found MacGowan in an alarming condition related to heroin. The incident caused a public falling-out but was subsequently often described as a 'wake-up call'.

State of the evidence

police report and public accounts documented

Legal status — source text

no criminal charges brought according to the sources reviewed

Attribution

personal responsibility limited to his alleged drug use; no conviction

The Pogues dismissed MacGowan in 1991 following prolonged deterioration linked to alcohol and drugs and missed appearances, notably during a tour of Japan. The episode contributed enduringly to the singer's self-destructive image.

State of the evidence

dismissal from the band and reliability problems documented

Legal status — source text

no legal proceedings

Attribution

personal professional responsibility, in the context of severe addiction

The song 'Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six', supporting the Birmingham Six and criticising British justice, was banned from broadcast in the United Kingdom under broadcasting rules relating to the Northern Ireland conflict.

State of the evidence

song supporting the Birmingham Six and broadcasting ban documented

Legal status — source text

broadcasting measure; no personal criminal proceedings against MacGowan

Attribution

artistic responsibility as performer and member of the Pogues; song co-written about a miscarriage of justice