Irving barred from speaking to media

The jailed British Holocaust denier David Irving has been banned from talking to the press after he continued to question the Holocaust from his cell and claimed he was a victim of Jewish persecution.

The 67-year-old author was jailed for three years last week by a court in Vienna, but since his incarceration he has continued to spout his far-right ideology in a number of interviews with the local and international press.

The court ruled Irving had "reinforced his revisionist statements" and "concretely offended" the Republic of Austria and has now forbidden him from giving any more interviews from his cell.

The ruling means no domestic or foreign media, including the British press, radio and television, will be allowed to see the controversial historian. His family and friends will still be allowed access.

Irving has appealed against his sentence but could face more years behind bars as a result of his recent statements if his case goes back to court.

He originally told the court that convicted him that he had changed his mind since making statements in 1989 questioning the extent of the Holocaust.

But his unrepentant behaviour during the trial led the nine-person jury to convict him despite his assurances. Irving was sentenced to three years in prision, which could now be increased if prosecutors decide his statements since the trial constitute another breach of local laws.

As it considers filing new charges of Holocaust denial against Irving, the public prosecutor's office in Vienna is looking at interviews he gave to the Daily Mail, Independent on Sunday and the BBC after his conviction.

The public prosecution spokesman, Walter Geyer, said: "We know Mr Irving has made several interviews with the British press and are looking into statements we believe may contravene the same laws for which he has been jailed."

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