14/11/2014
BBC Accused Of 'Borderline Racism' Over Irish Language Treatment
The BBC has been accused of "showing disrespect" to the Irish language community.
Sinn Féin councillor Niall Ó Donnahaile made the accusation in a letter to the broadcaster, which complained about "abuse" of the language on the Nolan Show.
Mr Ó Donnahaile appeared on the show on Wednesday night to discuss the DUP's Gregory Campbell's attempt to parody the language in the Assembly last Tuesday. Addressing the assembly, Mr Campbell said: "Curry my yoghurt can coca coalyer", which was meant to a parody of the Irish phrase, "go raibh maith agat, Ceann Comhairle" translates as "thank you, Speaker" and is used by nationalist MLAs in the chamber.
However, Mr Ó Donnahaile, complained to the BBC that during his appearance on the Nolan show the "offensive remarks were repeated ad nauseam in order to get a cheap laugh".
He added: "The disrespect shown to me and the Irish language community on BBC's the Nolan TV Show on November 5 was totally unacceptable."
Mr Ó Donnahaile said that the repeating the remark "bordered on racist baiting".
A statement from the BBC said they "reject any suggestion the discussion on The Nolan Show was racist", and they would reply to Mr Ó Donnahaile "in due course".
(MH/CD)
Sinn Féin councillor Niall Ó Donnahaile made the accusation in a letter to the broadcaster, which complained about "abuse" of the language on the Nolan Show.
Mr Ó Donnahaile appeared on the show on Wednesday night to discuss the DUP's Gregory Campbell's attempt to parody the language in the Assembly last Tuesday. Addressing the assembly, Mr Campbell said: "Curry my yoghurt can coca coalyer", which was meant to a parody of the Irish phrase, "go raibh maith agat, Ceann Comhairle" translates as "thank you, Speaker" and is used by nationalist MLAs in the chamber.
However, Mr Ó Donnahaile, complained to the BBC that during his appearance on the Nolan show the "offensive remarks were repeated ad nauseam in order to get a cheap laugh".
He added: "The disrespect shown to me and the Irish language community on BBC's the Nolan TV Show on November 5 was totally unacceptable."
Mr Ó Donnahaile said that the repeating the remark "bordered on racist baiting".
A statement from the BBC said they "reject any suggestion the discussion on The Nolan Show was racist", and they would reply to Mr Ó Donnahaile "in due course".
(MH/CD)
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