KKK hails McDowell for citizenship vote

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell has rejected an endorsement from the Ku Klux Klan after its former leader thanked him for "trying to protect the people against immigrants" after last month's citizenship referendum was passed.

Former KKK Grand Wizard and US presidential candidate David Duke said in his message: "The passing of this referendum is an amazing step for Ireland and the Irish people.

"Thank you, Minister McDowell, for defending the heritage of our mothers and fathers. The European world is being overwhelmed (by immigrants)."

Duke, who cannot hold office in the US after being convicted of tax evasion and postal fraud, is not the only controversial figure offering support for the outcome of the referendum.

Eugene Terreblanche, who leads the extremist Afrikaner Resistance Movement, also praised Mr McDowell: "For our people in South Africa you are really an inspiration ... I congratulate the minister on trying to protect the people against immigrants who they don't want to be in Ireland."

The comments appear in interviews which are published in today's edition of The Dubliner magazine.

During the campaign, Mr McDowell insisted that the referendum was not racially motivated but was designed to regularise our immigration policy.

Last night his spokesperson said: "We wouldn't give those guys any succour whatsoever by commenting on the article."

In the article, Ku Klux Klan Imperial Wizard Ray Larsen adds: "Praise the fine Irish people for waking up to the detrimental effects of mass immigration. In my own country it is not so much actual immigration but more like an invasion.

"If both nations do not stop this invasion we will both be buried and will, in effect, lose our own nation and become but another Third World country."

Irish Council for Civil Liberties spokesman Eugene Murphy said racism would continue to grow unless something was done.

Politicians and the Government should show leadership to counteract "blatantly rubbish" myths which had built up over the years about immigrants and asylum seekers, he said.

"We need to send a clear message to immigrants that they are welcome here," added Mr Murphy.

"This could be placed in the legislation that is produced as a result of the referendum, or through an education campaign explaining to people why immigrants are coming to Ireland."