In Nigeria, Islamist terrorists massacred a large number of Christian worshippers in a church. It made international headlines. The terrorists admitted their responsibility, and that it was motivated by religious hate. The Nigerian government confirmed all that. Higgins issued a statement sympathising, but neglected to mention that it was a religious hate attack carried out by a hard line Islamist terror group. Instead he suggested it was the fault of climate change!!!
There was outrage all over Nigeria at his comment. Christian leaders and Muslim leaders alike called on him to apologise and to call it what it was - a religious hate crime. A Nigerian Catholic archbishop appeared on RTÉ Radio 1's News at One to explain how offensive and hurtful the President's comments were, and called him to apologise.
Higgins' response was to stand over his wrong comments, and get angry when challenged on it.
When Higgins' letter to the Iranian president was released Higgins stated that he knew for a fact that it was leaked by Israel. He was 100% wrong. It was released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry on its X account. It was open that it had released it. It had nothing to do with Israel.
Journalists at a press conference in the UN, where for some reason he headed the Irish delegation at a Gaza conference (Irish presidents never attend UN meetings as they constitutionally are not part of the executive. God knows why the government let him go!) pointed out that he was wrong (Big mistake. Michael D loses it if told he is wrong), and pointed out the Iranian Foreign Ministry, not Israel, released the letter, and if he had checked the Foreign Ministry X account he would see it there.
Michael D completely lost the head, and began shouting, saying he knew for a fact Israel had released it to attack him.
The UN session was meant to focus world attention on Gaza, but instead the Irish president shouting at journalists made international headlines - to the fury of the Secretary-General. he ending up telling the government 'don't ever send that arrogant man over here again!'
The government was mortified but they had let him run riot for years. The media rarely covered his disasters in foreign affairs (and there were many) as they had a soft spot for him so stayed mum every time he fucked up.
So the government is right to slap down Connolly when she made an unconstitutional, ill-timed intervention. They do not want another out-of-control president riding rough-shot over the constitution and intervening in international affairs.
Higgins did no end of damage to Ireland's international reputation, at various times offending all the Americas, Africa, Asia and the EU with stupid comments. They don't want Connolly to do the same.
⏩ Jim Duffy is a writer-historian.
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