RTÉ defends Patrick Kielty over Sinn Féin ‘Traitors’ skit

Sinn Féin TD Mairéad Farrell demanded an apology for Friday night’s skit and said it should be taken down from the RTÉ player while the party also raised the matter with RTÉ

However, the State broadcaster defended Kielty on Saturday saying it was “comedic and satirical”.

In his opening monologue on Friday’s show Kielty referenced the reality TV show ‘Traitors’ which is going to have an Irish version.

“It’s full of deception, betrayal, where everybody keeps changing their stories. All we have to do is work out who is telling the truth,” Kielty said, before photographs of former Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley who quit the party last week and party leader Mary Lou McDonald came up on screen.

“I think that’s the first two contestants there,” Kielty said.

“Sinn Féin traitors, the show we all want to see,” he added to a mix of boos, cheers and laughter from the audience.

When contacted today an RTÉ spokesperson defended Kielty saying under his tenure The Late Late Show has become more satirical adding this was evident with an opening monologue based broadly around topical issues.

“This is now a well-established part of the format and there is an audience expectation that the show will open with a satirical take on events of the week. In this instance, the presenter joked about recruitment for the new television series “Traitors” which is based on a group of people facing, and being tested by various challenges. That was the satirical context, given the recent controversies involving Sinn Féin.

Later in the monologue Kielty said the Traitors was previously had a UK version where “people have to live with and eliminate their opponents to keep the money for themselves. I wonder where they go that idea.”

A picture of the British royal family was then posted on screen,

The RTÉ spokesperson continued: “The comedic and satirical aspect of this section was further re-enforced with an implicit joke about the House of Windsor. The audience understand this and the comedic nature is clearly evident in the tone and delivery of the monologue.”

RTÉ said satire is a core part of freedom of expression.

“Its targets are prominent figures, institutions, etc making the news and this has been the template for the opening monologue with Patrick. Aside from the entertainment and comedic aspects of the show, it also deals with serious issues and human interest stories. These are clearly differentiated in the show format and the past year featured interviews with political leaders, including First Minister Michelle O’Neill.

The spokesperson added that Sinn Féin is entitled to bring a formal complaint and information has been provided by RTÉ to the party to assist with that.

Speaking on RTÉ radio earlier today Sinn Féin’s Mairéad Farrell said: “There needs to be a public apology on air next week and also RTÉ needs to remove the segment” from the RTÉ Player.

She added that Mary Lou McDonald “has literally received death threats” which related to people calling her a traitor.

Sinn Féin has been embroiled in a series of controversies recently including the resignation of TD Brian Stanley following a “complaint” being made about him which led to an internal party inquiry.

The nature of the allegations are unclear but he said the party had subjected him to a “kangaroo court” over the matter.

He also made a counter allegation over the matter, denied committing any wrongdoing and accused the party of “character assassination”.

It also emerged this week that former Sinn Féin Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile resigned from the party for sending inappropriate texts to teenager.

The Senator received glowing praise from Mary Lou McDonald after it was announced months ago that he was stepping down for health reasons. It later emerged Ó Donnghaile continued to claim allowances even after he had stopped attending the Seanad.

The party had already been in embroiled in controversy about giving a reference to child sex abuser and former Sinn Féin press officer Michael McMonagle, for a job at a charity in 2022 even after they knew of allegations against him