A Kerry county councillor has called for the dismissal of Sunday Independent columnist Mary Ellen Synon because of her comments about disabled athletes.
Cllr Michael Healy-Rae, son of Mr Jackie Healy-Rae TD, wears a prosthesis leg support because of a car accident. He said when he called last week for a ban on a novel about Kerry farmers supposedly running with their trousers around their ankles after sheep, he regarded it "as a bit of a laugh". However, the councillor said he was deadly serious in calling for the dismissal of Miss Synon and urged that no other Irish newspaper should employ her.
He added: "There isn't a family in Ireland that doesn't know someone who has been touched by some mishap, be it mental or physical. And nobody I know wants to be subjected to the sort of insulting comments that she made in the article last Sunday.
"People can talk about freedom of speech, and people died in this country for freedom of speech. I accept that fully, but any person writing has an onus of responsibility on themselves, don't mind editors, to first judge their own work.
"And if Mary Ellen Synon can look into her heart and tell me that article wasn't offensive, then her judgment is badly flawed. She abused her right to freedom of speech when she wrote that piece and now that right should be taken away from her.
"She'd want three legs to keep up with me, and there are many people who've come back from much worse than what happened me. If Mary Ellen Synon or anyone else wants inspiration, they should go to a rehabilitation unit and see the determination of the people there. It seems she believes that disability and difference should be shunned and stigmatised," he said.
Miss Synon said Mr Healy-Rae was entitled to his opinion but declined to comment on his call to have her dismissed.