FINE GAEL HAS condemned “unacceptable” comments by one of its Dublin councillors, which claimed Sharia law is operating in Ireland.

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown councillor Brian Murphy posted a series of controversial comments on Twitter last night regarding migrants and Islam.

“Sharia law is operating in Ireland and most of the political class either do not know or do not care. It is a subversion of our legal system,” Murphy wrote.

He also claimed that future generations of Europeans will “inherit countries more divided, more dangerous and packed full of terrorists”.

“The majority of the media in the Western world are cowards, most politicians are cowards and most of the artistic establishment are cowards,” he wrote.

A spokesperson for Fine Gael this morning criticised Murphy’s comments and said:

Councillor Brian Murphy’s recent comments on social media are unacceptable and will be dealt with by the Fine Gael party.

“Fine Gael is a party of the progressive centre and is a committed European party.”

The spokesperson noted that earlier this year Fine Gael Intercultural was founded, a new group within the party that aims to promote diversity in its policies.

“Fine Gael wants to create a fair and caring society where everyone is engaged in democracy, and where there are no barriers to equal opportunity,” the spokesperson said.

“The party is committed to playing its role in assisting refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants.

“All people, regardless of class, dogma, ideology, race, religion or creed, should be treated equally and fairly,” they said.

A number of Fine Gael politicians took to social media last night to distance themselves from Murphy’s comments.

Senator Neale Richmond said: “I wholeheartedly disagree with Brian’s comments and I’ve argued with him on this. They are not reflective of Fine Gael policy.”

Similarly, Fine Gael TD for Dublin North West Noel Rock said that the comments “are completely unacceptable, and completely against the inclusive Ireland that I stand for”.

Earlier this year, Murphy came under criticism from media outlets after a tweet about a boy with autism, Hughie Malone, who spoke on The Late Late Show.

During Malone’s appearance on the show, Murphy tweeted: “Some kid on Late Late Show just said he wants to fly planes into buildings when he grows up #LateLateShow”.

Following backlash on social media, Murphy subsequently said that Malone “was a great kid” and that he “did not know that he was joking or that he had autism”.

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