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`People are entitled to protest´: Taoiseach on criticism from President´s sister

Dr Margaret Connolly criticised the Taoiseach and US President while protesting against the visit of Donald Trump.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he does not agree with criticism of Donald Trump by President Catherine Connolly’s sister, but defended her right to protest.

Dr Margaret Connolly, speaking to CNN’s Kit Maher on Saturday, the day of the US leader’s visit, said: “Take these 60 million tonnes of crap that they have bombed Gaza to rubble, take the rubble home, put it on the White House, and flatten your bloody White House.

“Call it what it is, speak the truth, stop talking rubbish. Cut your tongues out. Stop your lies, your killing, your slaughter.

“You have no right to do what you do, you are murdering and slaughtering and causing a genocide.”

Speaking at the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Co Offaly today, Mr Martin said, regardless of her relationship with the President, Dr Connolly has the right to share her opinion.

“President Connolly’s sister is an individual in her own right as a citizen of the country, we uphold the right to protest, and that’s it,” Mr Martin said.

“Very simple, straightforward. People are entitled to protest.

“I wouldn’t agree with what was said. But, you know, people are entitled as individuals just because your sister or brother or family member is in office.”

In May, Dr Connolly was among a dozen Irish citizens detained by Israel off the coast of Cyprus, while attempting to deliver aid to Gaza with the Global Sumud Flotilla.

In her CNN interview, she was also critical of Micheál Martin for attending the White House.

“How dare our Prime Minister, Taoiseach, go to the White House with a bowl of shamrock?” Dr Connolly asked.

“He should be ashamed of himself.”

Asked if he agrees with the comments by Margaret Connolly, Tánaiste Simon Harris said: “No, of course I don’t.

“No, look, I think President Connolly is fulfilling her role as President of Ireland with distinction.

“I think she did that again at the weekend. She’s here at the Ploughing, and President Connolly is, as she promised to me on her election as president, discharging her role as head of state, exactly as I think people in this country would expect our President to do, with dignity, with decorum, and very much aware of her constitutional responsibilities.

“Other people, including members of the President’s family or extended family, are private citizens.

“It is not for me to provide a comment other than to say I clearly disagree with those comments.”