Galloway takes legal advice over ‘attack’ at UCC debate

BRITISH MP George Galloway was taking legal advice yesterday on whether to sue a man he alleges defamed him during a heated debate in Cork on Monday night.

The controversial Respect Party MP stormed off the stage during a debate on US foreign policy in University College Cork (UCC).

Mr Galloway was proposing the motion that US foreign policy is the biggest crime since World War II.

But he stormed off in a rage after Dublin-based TV producer and journalist Gerry Gregg spoke of his links with Saddam Hussein’s regime and accused him of taking money from dictators.

A furious Mr Galloway returned to England yesterday morning without contacting the Philosophical Society (Philosoph) who organised and chaired the debate.

His spokesperson said he is “still furious” with how the debate unfolded: “He is extremely angry with the organisers and the lack of a proper and dignified debate.

“He is surprised and rather shocked that what was meant to be a replica of a parliamentary debate turned out as it did and that the chairman did not intervene and bring some dignity back to the debate.

“George felt strongly that as a guest there, the speaker should have confined the debate to the motion.

“George is well used to vigorous debate but it doesn’t normally stray into the libellous and defamatory.”

The Philosophical Society expressed regret yesterday at Mr Galloway’s decision to leave the debate and defended their handling of the event.

Paul Flynn, vice-auditor of the Philosoph, said the chairman offered Mr Galloway a chance to reply to the allegations.

“It was very unfortunate that he walked out,” he said. “We accept there may have been an error of judgment. It’s a difficult thing to judge when the line is crossed. But we try to err on the side of free speech.

“It’s better to battle out ideas. Rather than stopping people from speaking, you challenge their ideas.”

He said representatives of the 157-year-old society would try to contact Mr Galloway in the coming days to discuss the matter.

Mr Gregg stood over his remarks yesterday evening and said he was willing to defend all his comments in court should legal action ensue.

The debate continued following the walk-out and the motion was defeated when put to the floor.

Previous high-profile speakers at Philosoph debates have included controversial historian David Irving, vilified for questioning whether six million Jews were killed by the Nazis.