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Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that coverage of recent events in Belfast by “some media platforms” was “decidedly unhelpful”.
Speaking during Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil on Thursday, the Fianna Fáil Taoiseach condemned both the knife attack on victim Stephen Ogilvie in Belfast earlier this week, and the disorder that followed, saying that some commentary surrounding the incidents had been irresponsible.
Describing the attacks as “absolutely appalling”, Martin said there could be no justification for what had occurred after.
“The violence of last night has to be roundly condemned,” he said.
“I pay tribute to all of the political leaders who yesterday responded in the first instance to the attack of the previous evening, and for the unified message condemning any attacks on individuals, families and homes.”
Martin said the attacks appeared to have been “manipulated” and suggested that similar situations had been “exploited” elsewhere.
“What we witnessed last evening is absolutely appalling,” he continued.
“That families would be burned out of their homes because of race or ethnic reasons. I join with all Members of this House in condemning unreservedly the attacks of last evening.”
“They were orchestrated. We have had evidence of this in other countries where situations like this are manipulated – exploited, even is a stronger word – which results in the violence of the type we saw last evening.”
The Taoiseach also criticised aspects of the media and social media response to the events, though he did not identify any specific outlets.
“I watched some of the commentary from some social media outlets, and some media platforms of a particular orientation or political disposition which, to say the very least, was decidedly unhelpful in terms of how they portrayed the events of the past 48 hours,” Martin said.
“There can never be any implied justification for the attacks of last evening.”
Gript contacted the Taoiseach’s office seeking clarification on which media outlets or platforms he was referring to. No response was received.
“The events of the last few days in Northern Ireland have filled us with horror,” Martin had said during the same contribution, describing the attack on Stephen Ogilvie as “absolutely savage and horrific”.
“Our thoughts are with the victim and his family,” he said.
Martin also referred to footage of the attack which circulated online.
“The very graphic representation of that on social media has shocked many people,” he continued, adding: “I salute the courage of Maitiu Mág Tighearnán for his very brave intervention to essentially save the life of the victim.”
The Taoiseach went on to condemn the violence which took place in Belfast on Wednesday night, during which homes were targeted and families forced to flee.
Subsequent disorder saw a number of properties targeted, with reports of homes being attacked and families displaced. Political representatives North and South have condemned the violence and appealed for calm.
The victim has been named as Stephen Ogilvie, aged 44. He lost an eye and suffered extensive injuries in the vicious attack, which occurred in the Kinnaird Avenue area of north Belfast on Monday night. It is understood that Ogilvie was originally from Scotland and had been living in the same block of flats as the man accused of carrying out the attack.
Earlier today, speaking to the media, the Taoiseach also said that foreign individuals like Elon Musk and Tommy Robinson “need to butt out” of commentating on events in Belfast, saying that they were “creating tensions that are unhelpful”. He also asserted that over 50% of online traffic commenting on the events were coming from outside Ireland, which he argued was concerning.
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