FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER Charlie Flanagan says that he regrets if offence was taken to a tweet in which he appeared to direct a four-letter word to political opponents.
On Wednesday, the Fine Gael TD for Laois-Offaly tweeted that 2015 offered Ireland the choice of “Constitutional politics or Cult politics”.
He was challenged by Sinn Féin TD Padráig MacLochlainn, who tweeted a picture of the right-wing Blueshirts, a precursor to Fine Gael.
Another user suggested that the tweet had been misspelled, to which Flanagan replied that he’d “left out the n”.
Some users were quick to point out the inflammatory nature of the tweet.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie yesterday, Flanagan said that he was sorry is people took offence.
“I don’t use bad language. I apologise if offence was taken.”
The minister declined to expand on what the meaning of the tweet was or who it was aimed at.
As Minister for Foreign Affairs, Flanagan is required to meet Sinn Féin leaders regularly, including at the pre-Christmas Stormont talks.
Originally published: 14.59 on 01 January.
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