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18/09/2015
John McDonnell Apologises Over IRA Comments
Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has apologised over comments he made praising the IRA on BBC's Question Time programme on Thursday night.
Mr McDonnell apologised "from the bottom of his heart" for saying the IRA should be honoured.
He said: "I think my choice of words were wrong. I should not have said that.
"I should not have said the issue about the honouring. I said afterwards there's no cause that justifies the loss of life in this way. What I tried to do for both sides was to give them a way out.
"I accept it was a mistake to use those words but if it contributed to saving one life or preventing someone being maimed then it was worth doing.
"If I gave offence, and I clearly have, then from the bottom of my heart I apologise."
Mr McDonnell also apologised for saying he wished he could go back in time and kill Margaret Thatcher.
He said the comment he made about Margaret Thatcher "was an appalling joke".
"It's ended my career in stand-up, let's put it that way, and I apologise for it as well."
However, DUP Deputy Leader Nigel Dodds MP, said Mr McDonnell's attempts even now to justify his words undermines his expression of regret and suggests tactical and presentational considerations.
Mr Dodds said: "He is now suggesting that he used words that he didn't believe in order to persuade republicans to give up violence. That is not credible.
"John McDonnell needs to be honest and not merely to say sorry but to mean it. He needs to understand why the thousands of innocent victims of terrorism were so disgusted by what he said and who he supported.
"He has been dragged by entirely justified public outrage to address his obnoxious remarks only once they were brought to general attention."
(CD)
Mr McDonnell apologised "from the bottom of his heart" for saying the IRA should be honoured.
He said: "I think my choice of words were wrong. I should not have said that.
"I should not have said the issue about the honouring. I said afterwards there's no cause that justifies the loss of life in this way. What I tried to do for both sides was to give them a way out.
"I accept it was a mistake to use those words but if it contributed to saving one life or preventing someone being maimed then it was worth doing.
"If I gave offence, and I clearly have, then from the bottom of my heart I apologise."
Mr McDonnell also apologised for saying he wished he could go back in time and kill Margaret Thatcher.
He said the comment he made about Margaret Thatcher "was an appalling joke".
"It's ended my career in stand-up, let's put it that way, and I apologise for it as well."
However, DUP Deputy Leader Nigel Dodds MP, said Mr McDonnell's attempts even now to justify his words undermines his expression of regret and suggests tactical and presentational considerations.
Mr Dodds said: "He is now suggesting that he used words that he didn't believe in order to persuade republicans to give up violence. That is not credible.
"John McDonnell needs to be honest and not merely to say sorry but to mean it. He needs to understand why the thousands of innocent victims of terrorism were so disgusted by what he said and who he supported.
"He has been dragged by entirely justified public outrage to address his obnoxious remarks only once they were brought to general attention."
(CD)
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