McAleese Condemns Racist attacks in Belfast

national | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Saturday June 19, 2004 12:30 by HydrogenMan

But makes ill-thought through gaffe

Úachtarán na hEireann, Mary McAleese, has condemned recent racist incidents in Belfast.

Speaking at an event in Belfast, she said that the Chinese community had honoured Ireland by choosing to make the Island their home, and condemned recent attacks on homes and businesses.

The event, a breakthrough in community relations work in Belfast, was also attended by Belfast's new Lord Mayor, Tom Eakin, of the cross-community Alliance Party.

Some felt that the event was somewhat undermined by the joke made by the President that if the Chinese hadn't brought their wonderful cuisine to Ireland her children would have died of starvation a long time ago.

Despite this apparently patronising gaffe, the President was well received and the event was hailed as a success by all involved.