“I’ve never been a person that ever had contempt for another human being… but I certainly am now.”
Former President of Ireland Mary McAleese has condemned Yuriy Filatov, the Russian ambassador to Ireland, in especially strong terms, noting her “contempt” for the man.
Appearing on Friday night’s edition of The Late Late Show alongside fellow former president Mary Robinson, McAleese held nothing back in her scathing critique of Russia’s administration following its invasion of Ukraine.
McAleese said that she has written to the Russian ambassador a total of three times, “in terms that I couldn’t possibly publish”.
Asked to give a sense of her communication, McAleese elaborated:
“Like Mary [Robinson], I am very angry about this, like everybody I am angry.
“But I’ll tell you what I find hard to deal with – I’ve never been a person that ever had contempt for another human being. Ever. I don’t remember ever being contemptuous. But I certainly am now.
“Of that man. And of what he represents and how he lied to us.
“The only good thing, if there is any good thing at all to be said here – we know that he went on Russian television and said that the Irish people were hostile to Russia and that they were treating him and his colleagues very badly.
“Now, I’m sure that’s a narrative that Putin wouldn’t want to be told; that a wee small nation like Ireland had taken sides,” McAleese continued.
“Particularly a so-called ‘neutral’ nation, so I’m grateful, actually, that in an ironic kind of way and a sardonic kind of way, that he brought a message to the Russian people through their own fake press and their own fake news – he actually brought a truth about us as a people, that yes, we have taken a side here.
“And we’re going to continue taking that side until hopefully, hopefully, they will have it within their power, some of these days, to neutralise this militant, demagogic, this appalling, moronic, anti-human man who drives their country into pariah status right around the world,” she concluded.
Clip via The Late Late Show
Russian ambassador Yuriy Filatov made headlines around the world following a tense exchange on RTÉ’s Six One News last month which culminated in host David McCullagh labelling him “an apologist for slaughter”.
“Why should our Government entertain your presence here when you’re acting as an apologist for slaughter?” McCullagh asked.
“It’s a good question. You might ask that to your Government,” Filatov replied.
“It’s up to them. I can leave anytime.”
In the weeks since, the Russian Embassy in Dublin has played host to numerous protests, including the driving of a communion supply truck through its gates last Monday afternoon.
That particular act of protest followed the news that Ireland was named on an official Russian government list of countries it deems “unfriendly” to Russia.
The countries and regions were highlighted for either imposing or endorsing sanctions levelled against Russia following its military invasion of Ukraine.
In response to the embassy truck incident, Russia’s foreign ministry has demanded both a formal apology from Ireland and for the damages to be paid in full.
Featured Image of Yuriy Filatov via Sasko Lazarov / RollingNews.ie
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