A FIANNA FÁIL councillor in Limerick who came in for criticism over comments at a meeting of the council on Monday has insisted his remarks have been misconstrued.
The party said earlier it would “engage” with Cllr Azad Talukder after he suggested that people who took part in last week’s Dublin riots should be “shot in the head”.
However speaking today the councillor has insisted his comments were not about the rioters but about the attacker who carried out the Parnell Square stabbing on Thursday last.
At Monday’s full meeting of Limerick City and County Council, The Limerick Post reported that Cllr Azad Talukder said:
“I strongly believe that this is not the face of Ireland. This is just some criminals looting the shops. I don’t think they follow any ideological purpose. They come to the streets and just rob. They should get punishment.
“Not even an animal does these kind of thing. It is very shameful and they should get public punishment.
“I’d like to see them shot in the head or bring the public in and beat them until they die.”
The comments came in for criticism from Fianna Fáil Minister of State for Transport Jack Chambers earlier today, who described them as “completely inappropriate”.
The Journal attempted to contact Cllr Azad Talukder for comment several times earlier today by text and phone.
While the councillor did not respond, he has since spoken to the Irish Independent to insist he was speaking about the attacker and not the rioters.
He added that he didn’t mean the attacker should be physically punished. “I don’t mean shot like real shot, it’s just emotional language I used,” he said, according to the paper.
It is understood the councillor immediately withdrew the comments.
“I welcome the fact that he withdrew the comments immediately within that meeting,” Chambers said earlier today, before the councillor gave his clarifying remarks.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee has also come in for criticism for her choice of words in the Dáil this week, referring to the rioters in Dublin last week as “thugs” and “scumbags”.
Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fhearghail has told The Journal that he plans to plans to raise concerns over an increase in the use of inappropriate language in the Dáil chamber, stating that he would prefer words like “scumbags” not to be used by elected representatives.
When asked if it is incumbent on politicians to be careful around their use of language, that could heighten tensions, McEntee said today that “scumbag” is not a word she would normally use.
The Minister for Justice said it was in relation to the actions seen on Thursday night and was used in “exceptional circumstances”.
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