The first book to be banned in Ireland since 1998

"It was the only resort."

A book by author Jean Martin has become the first in 18 years to be banned by censors in Ireland. 'The Raped Little Runaway' has been given a prohibition order on all editions by the Censorship of Publications Board. The board has made the move to ban it because it contains numerous explicit descriptions of the rape of a child. Speaking in the Irish Independent, board chairman Shane McCarthy was the decision was unanimous.

"It was the only resort. We either ban it or allow it. It isn't like a film where you can put in an age restriction. It is black or white."

"He said there were only a small number of books that were banned in Ireland and said that prohibitions were an extreme and rare occurance.

"The collective view of the board was that it was a vile publication as it contained graphic descriptions of the rape of a minor. It was not singular."

The last book to be banned by the board was the 'Base Guide to London' in 1998.