CATHAL CROWE TD (FF) issued an apology in the Dáil today after claiming the British army never shot or bombed innocent civilians in Ireland.
The Meelick native made the remarks when discussing the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and stated immediately afterwards that he was something of a historian.
Crowe was first elected as a TD in the 2020 general election. In 2019, he gained national attention as he became the first politician in Ireland to decide to boycott the then government’s plans to commemorate the Royal Irish Constabulary as part of the centenary of the Irish War of Independence. This was a controversial move as the RIC was comprised of the Black and Tans and Auxiliaries as well as ordinary Irish officers. Deputy Crowe was widely praised for his decision by the general public.
The double election winner today apologised in the Dáil, saying “My apology is also to those of you who care about Irish history and the accuracy with which it should be conveyed. I wanted to make the point that brutal, bad, and all as the British armed forces have been on this island for a very long time, they never resorted to sending over the Royal Air Force, tanks and missiles to pummel Irish cities”, he continued.
The former primary school teacher further apologised and stated on the remarks “ It was not my intention to say this, and I didn’t realise how woeful all of that was until late last night when I received the transcript of what I had actually said. It was a genuine slip-up on my part, but it was wrong and I wish to today unequivocally and profusely apologise”.
In a social media post on April 20th, the Meelick native stated that he would be speaking at the Easter Commemoration in Macroom, Co. Cork. Crowe posted that “I am a proud republican and a united Ireland has always been my bedrock political belief”.
