Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

President Higgins and Taoiseach Enda Kenny Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland
It's toxic

Is Michael D Higgins being bullied over his height? One of his friends thinks so

The Abbot of Glenstal Abbey isn’t happy with some recent depictions of Michael D Higgins, saying they amount to “nothing less than toxic bullying”.

THE ABBOT OF Glenstal Abbey has accused certain sections of the media of bullying the President over his height.

Speaking on RTÉ radio this morning ,Mark Patrick Hederman, who is a friend of Michael D Higgins, said that there was a “thin line” between acceptable parody and bullying over “things that we have about ourselves that we can do nothing about”.

Hederman also wrote an opinion piece on the subject in yesterday’s Sunday Independent in which he said some recent lampooning of the former arts minister had amounted to “nothing less than toxic bullying”.

While laughing at someone’s height is unacceptable in general, he wrote “when it comes to the elected head of State, it enters an area of insult and defamation which undermines the prestige, authority and influence of the person elected to represent us”.

In a debate with Oliver Callan on this morning’s Today with Sean O’Rourke, he said that while he had no problem with sketches by the comedian and others concerning the President, there was a fine line between acceptable humour and defamatory material.

“I have been sitting here watching various programmes since this man became President and I know that while 90 per cent of it is huge fun and we’re all enjoying it immensely, then a line is crossed,” Hederman said.

Oliver Callan

Toxic

He had taken particular offence, he said, at a depiction of the president in a recent Sunday Independent LIFE magazine. Recent radio and TV sketches broadcast on RTÉ had also been unnecessarily cruel, he contended.

Everybody enjoys it up to a point, but then it goes over the edge and it becomes toxic.

He said some material had amounted to nothing more than attacks on Higgins over his personal traits. Recent sketches also suggested that the President couldn’t represent the country properly because of his height, Hederman contended.

Asked whether he had spoken to Higgins before writing the opinion piece, he replied “absolutely not”.

It may be that it’s counter-productive, but this is for me a matter of principle. It’s what we’re trying to cut out of schools and Facebook and everywhere…

Callan, who helms the popular ‘Callan’s Kicks’ show and is a former journalist, rejected any suggestions of bullying and said the Abbot’s assertions were “petty”.

I think he’s a big fan of satire in this country. I think he’s a big patron of the arts and I would invite him as the President to scold you — in a week where satire is a huge talking point around the world, that you go and criticise me just for mentioning his height.

“I’m a small man myself and I don’t find it’s something to be insecure about.”

Read: What was that weird bird-eating thing in last night’s ‘Charlie’ all about?

Read: Seagulls back in spotlight as Government seeks to ‘eliminate’ them from Department of Health 

Your Voice
Readers Comments
95
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.