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Irish MEP’s Twitter account tells Anglo to “f**k off”, he says he was hacked

Fine Gael MEP Jim Higgins claims his account was hacked after TheJournal.ie enquired about the authenticity of the tweet sent in the early hours of this morning.

Updated 22.20

THERE HAVE BEEN plenty of strong reactions to the revelations contained in the Anglo Tapes being published by the Irish Independent this week.

But there’s perhaps none as strong as that of Jim  Higgins, the Fine Gael MEP for the North West of Ireland, who tweeted in the early hours of this morning:

The politician has since claimed he was hacked. “Account hacked! Foul-language tweet not from me. Investigating hacker. JH,” he tweeted this morning.

Earlier TheJournal.ie contacted Higgins’ office to ask if the account and tweet, sent at 2.40am in the morning, were genuine.

In a statement to this website a short time ago, Higgins said: “I wish to confirm that my Twitter account was hacked overnight. I was unaware of the fake tweet until your staff contacted my office in fact.

“I have now clarified the matter on my Twitter feed. While I find the Anglo tapes disgusting, I would never use such foul language online. Tweet was not by me. I am looking into the matter.”

A spokesperson was shocked when we relayed the content of the tweet to them and said it “obviously isn’t him” before suggesting the account may have been hacked.

Higgins has also tweeted this morning: “While I find #anglotapes disgusting – would never use foul language on twitter. Deleting fake tweet now. JH”

Originally posted 09.37 today

Read: This was the hold music at Anglo Irish Bank in 2008

In full: Ex-Anglo exec denies that he tried to mislead the Central Bank

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Hugh O'Connell
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