Paper sorry for 'no coloured' ad

A GALWAY newspaper has apologised for publishing a property-to-rent advert which contained the line "no coloured".

The advert, seeking tenants to rent a four-bedroomed house in Knocknacarra on the outskirts of the city, was placed in Monday's edition of the Connacht Sentinel by Galway-based property consultant Michael Fahey.

"The advertisement that appeared was printed in error," said the paper's general manager, David O'Brien, yesterday. "We accept that the advertisement should not have been published. It does not reflect the attitudes or the values of the Connacht Sentinel.

"We apologise for any offence it may have caused."

Mr Fahey of City Property Services said the error was not the newspaper's fault. "It is a misprint. The advertisement was submitted by us. A mistake happened, but I do not know where."

He added he had "many coloured people in different properties".

Mr Fahey runs City Property Services in Galway. A spokesperson for the Equality Authority said if the matter was brought to their attention formally they would advise on the procedure for lodging a complaint.

Peter Butler from the Galway One World Group said the property company should print an apology.

"I am not surprised this happened," he said.

Mr Butler claimed to know of cases not involving Mr Fahey where rental houses were "already let" when non-white people applied, but were "available" when he subsequently got white friends to apply.