Chat show king Kenny criticised for ‘offensive’ Moyross jibes

BROADCASTER Pat Kenny was accused yesterday of hyping up Limerick’s crime image.

He told listeners to his morning RTÉ Radio One show that a media fuss over a gun he saw a youth handling in Moyross earlier this week was about as newsworthy as a “priest found in the Vatican”.

He was commenting on newspaper coverage on his encounter with a youth, aged around 16, who produced what the broadcaster said was a high power automatic handgun.

The Late Late Show host said that finding a gun in Moyross wasn’t news.

He said a gun being brandished at him may be something of news.

He said: “I was not surprised to know they are there, but surprised at the manner in which I was confronted with a gun.”

The Mayor of Limerick, Joe Leddin, said he would be disappointed that Pat Kenny would make such comments.

He added: “Particularly so since he took the time and effort to come and broadcast his show from Moyross, which we widely welcome. He could see at first hand all the wonderful and positive initiatives ongoing in Moyross. The fact that a person had a gun illegally is a matter of concern and a matter for the gardaí. Unfortunately that incident highlights another issue, namely the amount of illegal guns not just in Limerick but in the country.”

Councillor John Gilligan, who is deeply involved in working in deprived parts of Limerick, claimed Mr Kenny was set up by publicity seeking youths.

He said: “Pat Kenny’s comments that guns are more or less common place in Moyross are untrue and not helpful to the image of the city. It adds to all that nonsense and I believe Pat Kenny should be wise enough when somebody is taking him for a ride and was unwise to broadcast these fellows.

“I don’t believe what he saw was a real handgun. He was set up and these young lads were winding him up to get cheap publicity. I’m sure they were falling around the place laughing when they heard it on the radio: this fellow coming down from Dublin and winding him up.

“Pat Kenny should know people don’t walk around Moyross with guns. They are not used as a fashion accessory. They are used to shoot at people and the gardaí have recovered up to 15 guns in the area in the past few weeks.”

A person involved in community affairs in Moyross, who asked not to be named, said: “Pat Kenny with these comments is not contributing to helping social and crime issues in the area. What he said is also very unfair to local people and is not factual.”

Meanwhile the home of a youth questioned in connection with the Moyross firebomb attack which left the Murray children, Millie aged six and Gavin aged four, with horrific burns was badly damaged in a firebomb attack yesterday.

The attack happened at around 9am and firefighters spent more than an hour at the scene. Part of the downstairs section of the house was badly damaged.