Editor apologises for column on immigrant protest

THE new editor of the Limerick Leader yesterday apologised for a column published by the newspaper which was branded as racist by some readers.

Editor Alan English apologised to readers and said the sentiments expressed by columnist Gerry Doyle should not have been published.

In the February 14 edition of the paper, prior to the appointment of Mr English as editor, Gerry Doyle in his ‘Off the Wall’ column dealt with a protest by asylum seekers at the residential centre at Knockalisheen on the outskirts of the city.

Doyle referred to ‘genuine’ immigrants who come to work and blend into society. But he then went on to discuss those protesting at Knockalisheen, saying that if they didn’t like it in Ireland they should be sent packing! The newspaper was bombarded with calls from angry readers who condemned Doyle’s comments and the newspaper for printing them.

Mr English told readers in his first editor’s message yesterday: “My own view is that the column should not have appeared. A newspaper that fails to offer different points of view is not worth reading. But there must always be acceptable limits and if they are breached, then readers deserve an apology. We did not apologise at the time: we do so now, belatedly but unreservedly.”

A decision was taken prior to Mr English’s appointment that Mr Doyle’s column would be discontinued.

Limerick’s most acclaimed artist John Shinnors — writing in the letters page of yesterday’s edition — supported Doyle saying he was expressing the sentiments of ‘the ordinary man in the street’.