The Russian Ambassador should “butt out” of Irish affairs and apologise to the bereaved family of the activist who died fighting in Ukraine, a leading TD claimed yesterday.
People Before Profit Deputy Brid Smith demanded that Russian Ambassador Yury Filatov say sorry for the hurt he’s caused to the family of Finbar Cafferkey.
The call came after Ambassador Filatov made a “threatening” statement which appeared to suggest that Ireland could find itself at war with Russia. But Deputy Smith said the death of an Irish national has nothing to do with him and he should mind his own business.
READ MORE: Ireland weather: Urgent ‘thunder hail’ warning before Met Eireann forecast takes dramatic turn
She said: “I would take strong issue with the Russian Ambassador.
“First of all commenting on it, it’s none of his business. He should butt right out, particularly when the family is in such distress.
“And secondly, Finbar would have made up his own mind, he would not have been influenced by the Irish establishment and their views. He was a very independent thinker.”
She told RTE’s Saturday with Colm O Mongain that the Ambassador is wrong and should tone it down and “needs to apologise to the family for butting in”.
She added: “It has nothing to do with him, it’s a matter for the individual, his family and his community and we all give sympathy to them.”
The chairman of the Dail Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, Charlie Flanagan, also denounced the Embassy’s remarks as “threatening, intimidating and chilling” and called for the Ambassador to be booted out of Ireland.
He added: “These hostile remarks are unacceptable. Beyond time Ambassador Filatov and his crew were asked to leave our country.”
The diplomatic row erupted after Tanaiste Micheal Martin expressed his sympathies to Mr Cafferkey’s family after hearing of his death while fighting against the Russians in Ukraine. Mr Martin said that Mr Cafferkey was “obviously a young man of clear principles”.
But in response, the Russian embassy issued a stark warning to the Irish government against encouraging Irish citizens to take part in the Ukraine conflict.
The Embassy added: “We also do not know if Mr Martin’s remarks signify support for the Irish to take part in combat in Ukraine, but we do know that if that is the case, then Ireland would be the direct participant of the conflict with all the ensuing consequences.” Yesterday the Department of Foreign Affairs stated that Ireland’s support for Ukraine is “unwavering” and that “Russian disinformation” will not impact that. The Department also said that “the Government’s position in respect of Russia’s brutal and illegal aggression against Ukraine is crystal clear”.
The statement added: “Ukraine has a right to defend this attack on its sovereignty and territorial integrity, in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter.”
Mr Cafferkey, from Achill Island in Co Mayo who was in his 40s, is reported to have been killed while serving as a military volunteer in the east of Ukraine. He had previous combat experience in the Syrian conflict, and those paying tribute to him have described him as an activist on environmentalism and migration.
READ NEXT:
- Dog escapes new owners and walks 64km back to old home that got rid of him
- First photos of ex-GSOC man who partied with Gerry Hutch as he makes desperate attempt to hide face
- Tributes to young student who died after getting into difficulty swimming in sea in Waterford
- Record €566,000 horse dies in transportation accident to Irish yard shortly after being purchased
- Covid Arcturus variant spreading in Ireland as cases triple and peculiar new symptom reported
Get news updates direct to your inbox by signing up to our daily newsletter here
