President Higgins rejects criticism of comments about Fidel Castro

"Any suggestion that the President neglected human rights concerns is both unsustainable and unwarranted."

Ireland's President has rejected claims he ignored human rights concerns in a statement marking the death of Fidel Castro.

Criticism of the comments in which Michael D Higgins described the former Cuban president as a "giant among global leaders" has been unwarranted, his spokesman said.