News

RTÉ apologise to Sinn Féin MLA for Tyrone GAA tweet

Tyrone Mattie Donnelly Kerry David Moran in action at the GAA Football All Ireland Senior Championship Semi-Final between Tyrone and Kerry at Croke Park
Tyrone Mattie Donnelly Kerry David Moran in action at the GAA Football All Ireland Senior Championship Semi-Final between Tyrone and Kerry at Croke Park Tyrone Mattie Donnelly Kerry David Moran in action at the GAA Football All Ireland Senior Championship Semi-Final between Tyrone and Kerry at Croke Park
By John Monaghan

RTÉ has apologised for "any confusion" after appearing to endorse a tweet which expressed hope that Kerry "knock seven shades out of these Tyrone lads" ahead of the All-Ireland semi-final.

Sinn Féin West Tyrone MLA Barry McElduff complained about the tweet which was posted by former Meath footballer Anthony Moyles and 'favourited' by the official Sunday Game account.

At the time Mr McElduff said he had made the complaint as it "almost confirms that there is a feeling of anti-Tyrone bias inside RTÉ."

Moyles said he hoped "Kerry knock seven shades out of these Tyrone lads ...that (Tiernan) McCann lad needs a serious lesson given to him," a reference to the defender who collapsed to the Croke Park turf in the quarter final after Monaghan's Darren Hughes ruffled his hair.

In response to the complaint RTÉ said the 'favouriting' of comments is "merely for referencing purposes."

A Sunday Game spokesman said: "It is in effect a bookmarking service that allows us to tag certain comments that we may wish to come back to for future reference purposes."

"In no way would we ever insinuate that using the favourite option would be in any way an endorsement of those views."

The spokesman added: "We apologise for any confusion this may have caused as it wasn’t our intention for it to be perceived in such a fashion and it’s unfortunate that this misunderstanding has occurred."

Mr McElduff told The Irish News he "welcomed that RTÉ have addressed the issue."

He said: "It is not appropriate for RTÉ to favourite a tweet of this nature. It might be a bit creative of RTÉ to suggest that this is merely a bookmarking exercise.

"I am paying a compliment to RTÉ here. They do matter. They are the national broadcaster and The Sunday Game is their flagship show."

The Sinn Féin MLA added: "Moyles is partisan and is entitled to be so. However RTÉ lowered their standard in 2015 and I would like them to raise their game for 2016, as Tyrone intend to do also."