Limerick councillor says controversial remarks were misinterpreted following backlash

A LIMERICK councillor has apologised “unreservedly” over controversial comments he made about the stabbing of four people including children and the subsequent riots in Dublin which he says have been misinterpreted.

Abul Kalam Azad Talukder, a councillor for Limerick City North was speaking, during a meeting of the local authority, about the stabbing of young children and a creche worker, and the Dublin riots when he made controversial remarks that the perpetrator of the stabbing should be “shot in the head”.

These comments according to Mr Talukder are being miscommunicated and misinterpreted with reports outlining that he believed all those involved in the Dublin riots should be shot in the head.

This was not the intention of his comments, he says.

In an apology posted on social media, Mr Talukder said: “I would like to wholeheartedly and unreservedly apologise to everyone for the statement made by me in the council meeting last Monday.

“I was very emotional and traumatised when I heard someone had stabbed a five-year-old child and was reacting to that and I misspoke. I did not mean to refer to the rioters but was speaking about someone who could stab a child. Even at that, I had difficulty expressing myself through English.

“As an elected councillor I should not have used the language I did, I should have been more careful with my words and I am truly sorry. As my party headquarters has said such use of words is totally unacceptable."

In response to a query from the Limerick Leader, a Fianna Fáil spokesperson said: “The comments of Councillor Abul Kalam Azad Talukder were totally inappropriate, unacceptable and the party utterly condemns them. We have communicated the absolute unacceptability of the comments made and the councillor fully accepts this.”

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During the November meeting of Limerick City and County Council (LCCC), attended by this reporter for the Limerick Leader/Limerick Live, councillors were discussing a motion calling on the Government to review GDPR rules regarding housing and giving out information to councillors/directors of the council when Cllr Adam Teskey, of Adare-Rathkeale, as chairman of the Joint Policing Committee condemned the acts of violence in Dublin on Thursday, November 23.

Mr Talukder, agreeing with Mr Teskey’s remarks, said: “I am 24 years in Ireland and I’ve never seen this kind of thing and I strongly believe this is not the face of Ireland. This is just some criminal. It’s criminality… They’re looting shops… They’re robbing and they should get punishment… Children, who someone can stab. That’s not human even animals wouldn’t do this kind of thing and it’s very shameful. They should get a punishment, public punishment. I don’t know how to explain this thing, I’d like to see them shot in the head… especially when someone can kill a child.”

Mr Talukder told the Limerick Leader/Limerick Live this Friday morning that he was speaking in two parts, initially about the rioters but then specifically about the perpetrator of the stabbings in Dublin that same day.

Following on from Mr Talukder’s comments at the meeting, Cllr Conor Sheehan interjected saying: “Mayor you can’t call for somebody to be shot in the council chamber.”

Mayor of Limerick City and County, Cllr Gerald Mitchell asked Mr Talukder to withdraw these comments.

The comments were withdrawn.

“I can withdraw that… I hope Conor Sheehan can understand that it is just an expression of my English,” Mr Talukder said.

The matter has been referred to the Rules and Procedures Committee of the Ard Chomhairle by Fianna Fáil.