Tipperary TD in hot water over Michael Collins 'traitor' remark

Independent TDs Mattie McGrath and Michael Collins came to blows in the Dáil earlier this week, following the contentious vote on speaking rights.

The Tipperary South TD McGrath had to be separated from Deputy Collins after a verbal altercation took place between the two.

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Deputy McGrath came under scrutiny following remarks he made about Collins, in which he said that Collins was like his namesake, in that they were both “traitors from West Cork.”

Reports from within Leinster House claim that someone had to intervene between the two TDs after they had a heated altercation following their exit from the chamber.

Following the incident, Deputy Collins issued a statement, saying: “These remarks from Mattie McGrath represent a new and pitiful low from a TD that has moved on from endlessly attacking his old nemesis Michael Lowry to attacking the honoured memory of Cork’s legendary national icon, General Michael Collins.

“We may have political differences. They may run deep, but we do not speak ill of the dead. We should not engage in this kind of historical vandalism that only serves to denigrate the memory of a great man who gave his life for this country.

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“Mattie’s comments are water off a duck’s back to me personally, but General Collins’ memory is sacrosanct, and it should not be causally abused in the manner in which Mattie McGrath chose to do so.”

Concluding his remarks, Deputy Collins stated: “The incredible level of revulsion and anger that has arisen following these comments will not easily subside and I fully expect that they will cast a dark cloud over Mattie McGrath’s political life for the rest of this Dáil.”