MEP clarifies Ballymena in Leitrim ‘slip of tongue’ during EU debate
Midlands North West MEP says Ballymena in Leitrim mix-up was ‘unintended’ as speech calls for end to racist violence
The “slip” was made during a speech about the recent riots in Ballymena that Walsh was making on Monday during a preliminary debate in Strasbourg, where MEPs speak for one minute on a topic of their choosing.
“The reference to Leitrim was unintended and was not in the script - it was a slip of the tongue,” Walsh told the Observer.
The speech was intended to bring attention to issues in Ballymena in Co. Antrim, which left the EU following Brexit in 2016, and was the site of radical-motivated riots and anti-immigration protests following the alleged attempted sexual assault of a young girl by two 14-year-old Romanian boys in the area earlier this month.
“Her speech was clear on the need to end racist violence and support communities impacted by the riots, and she felt it was important to bring attention to the issue in the European Parliament,” said a spokesperson for Walsh, who was re-elected as an MEP for the Midlands North West last year.
According to the spokesperson, the speech was praised by Romanian MEPs in attendance, as some Romanian communities in Ballymena were the target of violence during the riot, though the slip has garnered criticism from social media users.
“The speech was recognised in the parliament, and by many others who we've kind of received feedback from over the past few days, but it's unfortunate that a slip of the tongue with one word is getting some of the focus,” added the spokesperson.