A Sky News journalist has caused a stir online after referring to those in Dublin as “British” during an interview with Ukrainian refugees.
Kay Burley, who presents the channel’s breakfast slot, had been talking about the importance of ‘wording’ just minutes before.
Allada and Anastasia from Kharkiv joined Burley on air this morning to discuss fleeing their country and travelling to Dublin.
They spoke about how Ukraine is under attack from Russia, and how their hometown is currently the target.
“As you know, civilians are dying every day. Our families who stayed in Kharkiv are hiding in bomb shelters and underground stations to avoid Russian rockets and bombs,” Allada said.
After getting “stranded” in Poland, Allada said they ended up in Ireland “by accident”.
At the end of the interview, Burley thanked the women for joining the programme, but not before stirring viewers with one confusing line.
She said: “I’m so pleased that you are safe and what a terrible journey you have had but hopefully you can start to build a new life in Dublin safe in the knowledge that the British people are completely behind you.”
In response to this, Allada thanked the Irish people for welcoming them. “We are so grateful to Irish people for all the kindness and all the hospitality that they treat us with and our Irish family who host us,” she said.
“In this family, we are surrounded by care and attention. We could feel family warmth and we really appreciate it.”
Twitter users were quick to comment on Burley’s phrasing, with one saying: “Not again!”
Another acknowledged that Allada had “corrected” Burley, while others questioned why incidents like this, where Ireland or Irish people were grouped with the UK, kept happening.
Others weren’t so sure that Burley meant that Dublin was in Britain and felt that she was simply saying that the UK supported them.
