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31/01/2005
McAleese apologises calling sectarianism a 'shared problem'
Irish President Mary McAleese has said she is "deeply sorry" after she claimed some Northern Ireland children were taught to hate Catholics in the same way Nazis despised Jews.
The remark, made during an interview on RTÉ's Morning Ireland programme shortly before the President attended ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of the Auschwitz liberation last week, attracted condemnation from unionist politicians in Northern Ireland.
The DUP’s Ian Paisley Jnr said Mrs McAleese had “deliberately vilified an entire community” and that the timing was “quite sick”.
Senior Ulster Unionist Michael McGimpsey also criticised the comments describing them as “outrageous”.
But, speaking at the weekend Mrs McAleese said she was "personally absolutely devastated" by the furore surrounding the comments. "I said that people in Northern Ireland who taught their children for example, to hate for example Catholics, and I should have gone on to say, and Protestants, because the truth of the matter is that, of course, sectarianism is a shared problem,” she said.
"I was trying to make a point and I made it very clumsily indeed. I am the first to put my hands up and say I made it very clumsily indeed."
For some, however, Mrs McAleese’s comments have come too late.
West Tyrone Ulster Unionist Assembly Member Derek Hussey called for the Irish President to resign.
"Unlike my colleague, Michael McGimpsey, I do not accept the Irish President's apology nor that this matter should now be over,” Mr Hussey said. “Mrs McAleese has, irrevocably insulted the Protestant people of all of Ireland, caused untold damage to ongoing peace efforts in Northern Ireland and tainted the integrity of her position as Head of State of the Republic.”
Mrs McAleese, who was born in Belfast, joined with concentration camp survivors and over 40 heads of state for memorial ceremonies in southern Poland on Thursday.
(MB/SP)
The remark, made during an interview on RTÉ's Morning Ireland programme shortly before the President attended ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of the Auschwitz liberation last week, attracted condemnation from unionist politicians in Northern Ireland.
The DUP’s Ian Paisley Jnr said Mrs McAleese had “deliberately vilified an entire community” and that the timing was “quite sick”.
Senior Ulster Unionist Michael McGimpsey also criticised the comments describing them as “outrageous”.
But, speaking at the weekend Mrs McAleese said she was "personally absolutely devastated" by the furore surrounding the comments. "I said that people in Northern Ireland who taught their children for example, to hate for example Catholics, and I should have gone on to say, and Protestants, because the truth of the matter is that, of course, sectarianism is a shared problem,” she said.
"I was trying to make a point and I made it very clumsily indeed. I am the first to put my hands up and say I made it very clumsily indeed."
For some, however, Mrs McAleese’s comments have come too late.
West Tyrone Ulster Unionist Assembly Member Derek Hussey called for the Irish President to resign.
"Unlike my colleague, Michael McGimpsey, I do not accept the Irish President's apology nor that this matter should now be over,” Mr Hussey said. “Mrs McAleese has, irrevocably insulted the Protestant people of all of Ireland, caused untold damage to ongoing peace efforts in Northern Ireland and tainted the integrity of her position as Head of State of the Republic.”
Mrs McAleese, who was born in Belfast, joined with concentration camp survivors and over 40 heads of state for memorial ceremonies in southern Poland on Thursday.
(MB/SP)
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McAleese Award To Mark 'Peace' Contribution
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The 2005 Birthday Honours List for Northern Ireland
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The full list of recipients of honours in the 2005 Birthday Honours list for Northern Ireland is as follows: Knighthood: Mr Hugh Orde OBE, Chief Constable, Police Service of Northern Ireland - for services to Northern Ireland. CBE: Mr Robert David Stewart Campbell, Belfast - For Political and public service.
19 May 2011
Queen Adds Her Voice As Fitzgerald Mourned
Former Taoiseach, Dr Garret FitzGerald, 85, has passed away in a Dublin hospital after a short illness. He served as Taoiseach twice between 1981 and 1987 and made key negotiations in the Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985 helping Northern Ireland work towards a peaceful future.
Queen Adds Her Voice As Fitzgerald Mourned
Former Taoiseach, Dr Garret FitzGerald, 85, has passed away in a Dublin hospital after a short illness. He served as Taoiseach twice between 1981 and 1987 and made key negotiations in the Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985 helping Northern Ireland work towards a peaceful future.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A showery start with outbreaks most frequent north of Lough Neagh and through the morning, before dwindling during the afternoon as the northwest breezes ease and brighter spells of weak sunshine prosper. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A dry night, save for a few light showers around the coasts, with prolonged clear spells and light winds bringing a frosty dawn for many in central and southern parts. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
