COLM Meaney has claimed Martin McGuinness was "very badly treated" by the media, as he was named best actor at the weekend for his portrayal of the former deputy first minister.
The Dubliner, who played the former IRA commander and Sinn Féin politician in the film The Journey, was recognised at the annual IFTA Film and Drama Awards.
Hours earlier the actor made an impassioned defence of Mr McGuinness, claiming he was treated unjustly by the media because of his past.
Meaney told RTÉ's The Late Late Show that "every leader of every national liberation struggle around the world, or an independence struggle against imperialism - they've all had a military past or a 'terrorist' past".
Colm Meaney on how the British media covered the death of Martin McGuinness and how the Irish media treated him when he was alive #latelate pic.twitter.com/rSwsSYUO6g
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) April 7, 2017
When asked by presenter Ryan Tubridy if it was not the media's role to question Mr McGuinness about his past, he said: "I hear this a lot, but I didn’t see anyone questioning Nelson Mandela or Menachem Begin, as Prime Minister of Israel for 20 years, having planted the bomb in the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, a terrible atrocity".
"So, I felt Martin got special treatment."
The actor took the IFTA film award in a category also including Jamie Dornan and Michael Fassbender.
The Journey tells the story of the relationship of Mr McGuinness, who passed away on March 21, with the late Ian Paisley, played by Timothy Spall, ahead of the St Andrews Agreement.
Written by Co Down author Colin Bateman, it is due out in cinemas next month.
Some of the best known names in the Irish film and TV industry gathered at the awards event at the Mansion House in Dublin on Saturday, including Co Antrim-born actor James Nesbitt.
But the star went home empty-handed after he failed to win the best actor in a lead role award for his portrayal of double murderer Colin Howell in The Secret.
The gong instead went to Cillian Murphy for Peaky Blinders.
The best supporting actress award was won by Dublin actress Charleigh Bailey for A Date for Mad Mary, while best actress in drama went to Amy Huberman for her role as a lawyer in RTE's Striking Out.
The best lead actress in film was awarded to Loving star Ruth Negga.
