A live BBC NI broadcast from the Team Ireland homecoming in Dublin on Monday had to be cut short after children in the background were heard chanting: ‘Ooh ah up the ra’.
During a BBC Newsline report on the Olympians returning from the Paris 2024 Games, the presenter had to stop as she said she couldn’t hear anything, and the broadcast was diverted back to the studio in Belfast.
TUV Carrick Councillor David Clarke said he has written to the Olympic Federation of Ireland and the director of BBC Northern Ireland raising concerns.
Read more
In his correspondence, he states: “This evening’s edition of BBC Northern Ireland’s evening news programme, Newsline, included a live report from Dublin in which a reporter broadcast from in front of a group of primary school aged children. I was shocked and appalled when the children suddenly took up a chat of “Ooh ah up the ’Ra” which prompted a swift end to the live broadcast.
“I appreciate that The Olympic Federation of Ireland could not control this event. However, it took place following an event to welcome home athletes, some of whom as noted above are from Northern Ireland which bore the brunt of the brutal IRA campaign which resulted in the murders of over 1,700 people and the maiming of thousands of others. You will also be aware that the FAI was fined €20,000 after some members of the Ireland women’s team was filmed chatting this highly offensive slogan.
“I invite you to publicly distance The Olympic Federation of Ireland from what we saw tonight on the BBC and make clear that there is no place for the glorification of terrorism in sport.”
The BBC have been contacted for comment.