Connolly ‘proud’ of photographer abuse

Management at a concert venue have apologised to a photographer after she was verbally abused and reduced to tears by comedian Billy Connolly.

The Scotsman was just minutes into his sell-out show in the INEC Killarney on Thursday night, when he spotted in-house photographer Valerie O’ Sullivan taking photographs.

The comic made some remarks about photographers making money out of him. Then he told the photographer to “get the fuck out of here” and called her a “fucking c**t’’.

Ms O’Sullivan, who left the venue in tears, was too upset to talk to reporters yesterday.

INEC manager Tadhg Moriarty said they had received a number of complaints from the public about the incident which they had passed on to Connolly’s management.

He said the INEC deeply regretted the upset caused to Ms O’Sullivan.

“We hold Valerie in the highest regard and consider her a valuable friend and a fantastic photographer. We have contacted her directly and we do hope she knows the esteem in which we hold her.’’

However, despite the public backlash, Connolly refused to apologise, telling Marian Finucane on RTÉ radio at the weekend he was “proud” of what he said.

“I didn’t know she was a woman when I told her to go away. When she didn’t go away, I told her to go away in a Glaswegian fashion... it’s two words.”

Caroline O’Sullivan, who was sitting near the photographer with her husband, Seán, said Connolly used terrible language.

“I could only describe it as an abusive tirade. It was shocking.

“Initially, some members of the audience thought it was part of the show, but they soon realised this one woman was being singled out for an absolutely mortifying and appalling experience.”

Ms O’Sullivan said the biggest regret they had was that they did not walk out.

“I know I didn’t laugh for the rest of the night. He probably lost his audience after that rant and I don’t think the show recovered,’’ she said.