Alan Dukes has told the Irish Mirror he would like to “apologise unreservedly” for the comments he made about ‘border people.’
The former Fine Gael leader caused great offence to people living in border counties when he told an RTE documentary they “turn to violence more easily.”
He made his comments in the Quinn Country programme which examined the life and times of former billionaire businessman, Seán Quinn, who is from and lives in the border area.
The offensive comments were broadcast in the final episode of the series which aired on Wednesday night and there was an immediate backlash of anger from the public.
Twitter was awash with people from all over the country slamming Mr Dukes.
And politicians from border counties, including Fine Gael Minister Heather Humpreys, Fianna Fáil TD, Brendan Smith and Sinn Féin TD, Matt Carthy, all criticised Mr Dukes and called on him to apologise.
Mr Dukes subsequently came on to the Today with Claire Byrne Show on RTE Radio One on Thursday morning to address the public fury, but he refused to backtrack on his remarks.
However, the experienced ex-politician had a change of heart when the Irish Mirror contacted him this afternoon.
Mr Dukes told the Mirror he wants to “apologise unreservedly.”
He also said that he would make this fulsome apology live on national radio when he appears on the Matt Cooper Show on Today FM later this afternoon.
Mr Dukes later told Cooper on Thursday night: “Those remarks were entirely unjustified and I apologise unreservedly….. I apologise without any reservation.”
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