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13th Dec 2016

PIC: The letter sent by an “appalled” and “outraged” Aodhán Ó Ríordáin to RTÉ following last night’s Claire Byrne Live

Conor Heneghan

“I am appalled, dumbfounded, outraged and indeed absolutely livid at what I have witnessed on my television screen this evening.”

Labour senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has posted a picture of a letter he sent to RTÉ expressing his outrage at the debate on the refugee crisis on Claire Byrne Live on Monday night.

Actor Liam Cunningham, journalist Ian O’Doherty and Minister for Defence Paul Kehoe all appeared on the programme to discuss the issue and the broadcast generated a big reaction on social media.

So incensed was Ó Ríordáin by what he witnessed that he was moved to write a letter just before midnight on Monday night, criticising RTÉ for addressing an issue “that is tearing countries and communities across Europe apart… with all the sensitivity of a lumberjack”.

Ó Ríordáin blasted the national broadcaster for his assertion that they “deliberately sought out the most xenophobic and hateful voices you could find in order to enhance viewership numbers” and reserved specific criticism for Ian O’Doherty, saying: “Since when has Ian O’Doherty been a respected commentator on anything?”

You can read the letter in full below and you can watch Claire Byrne Live on the RTÉ Player here.

A Chara,

I have never before written to RTÉ to complain about any subject but I am appalled, dumbfounded, outraged and indeed absolutely livit at what I have witnessed on my television screen this evening.

You managed to handle the most divisive of political issues, one that is tearing countries and communities across Europe apart – the matter of the Refugee Crisis, with the sensitivity of a lumberjack.

In doing so it appears you deliberately sought out the most xenophobic and hateful voices you could find in order to enhance viewership numbers. Are the most reasonable people you could find represented by the National Party? Since when has Ian O’Doherty been a respected commentator on anything?

You had an opportunity to ask the government representative serious and searching questions about the Refugee Crisis and what our response should be. Instead you choose the lowest common denominator route which I’m quite sure upset any non-white Irish Christian child half to death if they had the misfortune to be watching it. Are they going to be raped by a Muslim? You actually gave a number of speakers a platform to spread that filth. I cannot begin to adequately express my disgust.

This is an important issue. Probably the most important issue of our time. And yet your opportunity to debate it calmly and respectfully fell at the alter of gutter journalism.

I’m ashamed of what you have produced tonight. I can only hope that children who don’t fit into the National Party’s perfect view of the world didn’t see it. Or that what was said won’t be repeated in the playground.

If it is I’m sure you’ll say that you’re only reflecting views in society. But you have responsibilities to the licence payer and to the wider public. You have grossly failed in that regard this evening.

Yours,

Aodhán Ó Riordáin
Labour Party, Dublin Bay North

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