In a week of apologies, it appears that ‘sorry’ isn’t the hardest word

VINCENT BROWNE was utterly indignant on his programme on Tuesday night as he launched into the Irish Times over the column in which Kevin Myers used the term “bastards” in an offensive and distinctly insensitive way.

It is wrong and grossly offensive to refer to any child as illegitimate. The term bastard was used inappropriately, possibly for shock value in order to bolster his argument but the shock merely obscured what he had to say. Kevin realised that he overdid it and he apologised fully. That should be the end of it.

Very few children who might find it offensive are likely to have read the column. But they could ultimately be the beneficiaries in that the controversy has highlighted the unacceptability of such stigmatisation.