Yates escapes censure over rugby comment

THE broadcasting authority has decided not to cite Ivan Yates for remarking on air that Irish and Welsh rugby supporters share a hatred of the English. The remark was made on the Newstalk 106-108fm breakfast show prior to the Six Nations game between Ireland and Wales.

Co-presenter of the show Claire Byrne remarked that the Welsh were “the wildest” of the Six Nations rugby visitors and her colleague Ivan Yates went on to say he had business interests in Wales, that he liked the Welsh, and that “of course we share a passionate hatred of the English”.

An Englishman living in Ireland, J Amos, complained to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. Mr Amos stated he found the remark “upsetting and offensive as well as being deeply disturbing that a broadcaster should express racist comments so blatantly on air”.