Varadkar: Kehoe's use of the word 'druggies' is unacceptable

Leo Varadkar said he spoke to Mr Kehoe on Wednesday about his use of words and said Mr Kehoe “accepted that he shouldn’t have used that term.”  Picture: Michelle Devane/PA Wire

Tanáiste Leo Varadkar said people who suffer with drug and alcohol addiction need sympathy and that his party colleague’s use of the word “druggies” is unacceptable.

Fine Gael TD Paul Kehoe has faced criticism for saying Dublin’s O’Connell Street is full of “druggies and crime.” Speaking in the Dáil on Tuesday, Deputy Kehoe said: "It's a street I'm absolutely ashamed of as an Irish person."