Sinn Fein want the County Down man to apologise on tonight’s show.
After Patrick Kielty, host of the Late Late Show, used the words “Sinn Féin traitors” during last Friday night’s show, Sinn Féin demanded an urgent apology from RTÉ, reports RTE.
The network has been accused of “electoral interference” by the party, which claims to have brought up the issue with RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst.
In a statement, the party said: “Mary Lou McDonald has been the subject of death threats, where the moniker ‘traitor’ has been used. Repeating inaccurate, far-right tropes on the Late Late Show, weeks out from a General Election, can only be considered electoral interference. RTÉ should immediately apologise,” reports RTE.
Last night’s show began with a humorous segment in which Mr. Kielty stated, “the hunt is on for people to take part in the Irish version of the hit reality show, The Traitors.”
Images of former party TD Brian Stanley, who announced his departure from the party last weekend, and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald appeared on the screen after that.
Sinn Féin called the article disgusting and completely unacceptable in a letter sent this morning to RTE Director General Kevin Bakhurst, reports RTE.
It claimed that far-right anti-immigration demonstrators had frequently referred to the party as “traitors” in their remarks.
Robbie Smyth, the head of communications for the party, stated that Mr. Kielty should apologise publicly on television next week and via RTÉ’s broadcast channels.
“Sinn Féin traitors” was previously labelled a “slogan associated with the far right” by Mairéad Farrell, the party’s TD for Galway West, reports RTE.
She stated that RTÉ “needs to remove this segment” off the RTÉ Player during her appearance on Saturday with Colm Ó Mongáin.
According to Ms. Farrell, the party has filed a complaint against the remark, reports RTE.
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