Kellie Harrington refused to answer questions on a controversial anti-immigration tweet she shared in October when quizzed on the matter today.
The Olympic gold medallist retweeted a video from GB News five months ago which featured Dutch commentator Eva Vlaardingerbroek speaking on the death of a 12-year-old girl in France.
In the clip, Vlaardingerbroek said: “I woke up this morning to see the news of another young European girl who was sacrificed on the altar of mass migration. We have four people in custody, all migrants coming from Algeria.
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“This is the 12th girl I believe in France that has been killed this year by an immigrant and that’s just France.”
Harrington commented at the time: “Very, very sad. A powerful message from Eva Vlaardingerbroek. Our own leaders need to take a listen to this. She believes this is the 12th girl in France this year who has been killed by an immigrant.. And that’s just France.”
Harrington, who was competing at the European Boxing Championships in Montenegro at the time, took the post down minutes after tweeting it, stating that she didn't "need the hate".
When one person stated that most violence towards women is committed by people known to them and not to blame immigration, Harrington replied: "Of their own nationality. It is not right."
The 33-year-old then posted: "Deleted and walked away. As someone rightly suggested, thanks. Don't need the hate post! But my god, that poor poor soul. Absolutely heart breaking, just a wee girl, her whole life ahead of her. My god rest her little soul, gone far to young,at the hands of cruel evil people."
Harrington appeared on Off The Ball on Monday and was asked about her views on immigration by Shane Hannon, to which she replied: "I feel right now at this moment that you're trying to hang me out to dry so for that I'll say next question."
She continued: "That was a post in October so I do feel like you're hanging me out to dry and you know me by now and you know you're going to get the truth off me and that's exactly the truth as it is. As I'm sitting here now, I feel like you've brought that up to try and bring up a bit of controversy."
When the interviewer insisted it was not his style to look for controversy, Harrington responded: "That was in October. Like you said, it was in October. Like we're now heading into April."
At this stage, the voice of another person, off camera, who appeared to be with Harrington was heard interrupting and suggested the Off The Ball host move on from the question.
Harrington then said: "I totally understand the question and you have to ask it and everything but it's probably best to move on from it."
She continued: "Is that what you want to waste the time on? There's so many other questions you could ask me. I'm not a politician."
Hannon then stated from his point of view that having immigrants from different countries to Ireland adds so much to the culture, to which Harrington stated: "That's what you would argue and that's fine. I'm not having that argument with you. I'm not even open to the discussion with you."
She continued: "If you're not hanging me out to dry, let it go, move on. Be like Elsa and just let it go. Don't hold it back anymore, just let it go and move on."
Harrington then added: "I know it's your job (to ask questions) and you've asked and I've responded and told you next question. I'm not here to answer those questions. I'm not here to talk about politics. If I wanted to do that, I'd go and do a degree in politics."
The interview ended shortly afterwards.
Many people had their say on it on social media, with one writing: "Big fan of Kellie's but disappointed with the way she handled this. I think Shane was very fair and entitled to ask the questions in the way he did."
Another said: "Sounds like a perfect politician refusing to answer the question, no degree needed."
Someone else commented: "Fair play, Shane. You don't get to say something in a public forum and not expect that to have consequences. Lost a pile of respect for Kellie there."
One other person wrote: "Handled that poorly - if it happened in October she has had more than enough time to think about and clarify how her position has changed, or not."
Another tweet read: "What has the fact it was tweeted in October got to do with it? Very poorly handled here by Kellie."
But someone else asked: "Is KH not allowed to have an opinion now?"
One other user commented: "Are you not allowed have your opinion these days??"
Another tweeted: "She is entitled to what ever view on immigration as she wants."
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