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editorial decision

RTÉ removes comments about young female refugees made by Patrick Guinness

A spokesperson for the national broadcaster told TheJournal.ie this was an “editorial decision”.

PATRICK GUINNESS MADE what has been described as inappropriate comments about young Syrian women while being interviewed by Ryan Tubridy on RTÉ Radio 1 this morning.

RTÉ has since removed the comments from the RTÉ Player. A spokesperson for the national broadcaster told TheJournal.ie this was an “editorial decision”.

Guinness was speaking about an auction of over 700 pieces from the Guinness home when he was asked by Tubridy where he would live after the auction. Guinness replied:

First of all we have to sell the house, we may fill it full of Syrian refugees you never know.

Tubridy said, “That would be a very generous thing to do if it’s for real” and Guinness continued:

Preferably female aged between 20 and 30.

The RTÉ presenter said: “Okay, well that’s one of the more peculiar suggestions I’ve heard.”

To which Guinness replied, “Someone’s got to do it.”

Although the comments have been edited out from The Ryan Tubridy Show on the RTÉ Player, RTÉ sent the full interview to TheJournal.ie when asked.

Reaction 

A listener, Peader O’Faolain, later called into the Joe Duffy Show to express his dissatisfaction with the comments, saying: ”I was absolutely disgusted with him.

This guy is somebody who led a very good life for himself with his Guinness family and that, and to turn around and say something like that is absolutely shocking.

He added that he thought Tubridy was ‘caught on the hop’. When asked what Guinness should do, O’Faolain said:

I think he should ask Ryan Tubridy to please apologise on air to the people, the Syrian people and the Irish people for what he said.

“He said something that was absolutely wrong…he certainly should apologise.”

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