Fr Reid is a great man, says Ahern

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday defended Fr Alec Reid against fallout from his Nazi comment, describing him as a great man who had contributed much to peace in the North.

Although he later apologised, Fr Reid caused uproar last week when he likened the treatment of Catholics in Northern Ireland by Protestants to that of the Jews in Germany by the Nazis.

On the day the Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed Fr Reid was being investigated on foot of an incitement to hatred complaint, Mr Ahern said any ill-advised comments attributed to Fr Reid should be seen in the light of his contribution to the peace process.

In addition to many other interventions, Fr Reid is credited with helping to broker the IRA ceasefire in 1994 by setting up talks between Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams and the then SDLP leader John Hume.

Mr Ahern said: “I’ve learnt in Northern Ireland that whenever anyone makes a slip on either side everyone jumps on everybody. But can I say this: Fr Alex Reid is a great man. Fr Alex Reid has done enormous work.”

Speaking at Fianna Fáil’s annual Wolfe Tone Commemoration on Bodenstown yesterday, Mr Ahern conceded the Nazi comment had been ill-advised but pointed to Fr Reid’s record of peace-making.

“He has been the one person that’s been involved. If you go through political, religious and community leaders, he has been involved right through since 1988 and I think that the part he played in the recent decommission has been a major part as well,” he said.

“He reacted to provocation, shouldn’t have, but who doesn’t do that at times. And I think it should be seen in that light. Fr Alex Reid is an old man, he hasn’t had the best of health ... he has nothing to answer. He has done a good job. He shouldn’t be trying to answer for all of the rest of us and I think he should be seen in that light. It’s not fair on him.”