Michael D Higgins insists he is President of Ireland, refuses to commemorate partition

He did lie. He admitted to lying. He tried to gloss over it and invented a different reason for not going.

Here is the original Times article with McGee.

Higgins doesn't say that the invitation incorrectly referred to him as the President of the Republic of Ireland. He merely said that he was referred to as that...presumably by members of the DUP who have done it in the past as a jibe. But then again, the DUP have tried to make out that his decision is a snub to the Queen, which is also a load of bollocks as well.

Unsurprisingly, though, the more disingenuous posters on this forum (no matter what name they are posting under these days) have chosen to seize upon this, so called "lie", and blow it out of all proportion for propaganda reasons.

He didn't go "all guns blazing" to anyone. He merely declined to go, then explained why when he was asked.

What is it with all the hyperbole surrounding this. It's beyond ridiculous.

@Tony EH wrote:-

This, we are relying on the words of interviewer rather than a recorded interview, it seems he simply stated that he was referred to as the President of the Republic of Ireland, weather McGee took him up wrong, assumed or otherwise is unknown, but what matters is the President is on record clarifying what he said or meant.

Does that mean he lied? No it does not, how many times are words misunderstood or meanings presumed by journalists, is a clarification not enough to resolve the matter?

The fact that he said "they keep referring to me....." should be enough to show it was repetitive, something said several times or at least more than once, not on a single one off invite, the "they keep referring to me as" fits that which has been said several times by members of the DUP.

The fact that the very next day he clarified who "they" are should be enough for people, but, obviously not.

This is the biggest load of nonsense i have read on this forum for some time. i wouldn't know where to start with the prejudice and lack of understanding displayed

I shed tears for your hurt 🤣

"Higgins was never very good at fostering good relations. He certainly wasn’t President McAleese; McAleese was actively encouraging and engaging in conversations, etc.

“I support good relations ... but they’ve now been shattered.

“Relations with the Republic are the worst in many years. Relations were improving. They’ve taken a step backwards."

Michael has damaged relations with Unionists. It took a long time and a lotof very hard work to build trust between the twocommunities. People on here seem to be full of hate towards Unionists. Michael never once engaged with the organizers.

Sounds like it rattled you 😂😂

Shankill Butcher Eddie McIlwaine. The Orange Order won't release a list of the names of its members that were killed during the Troubles... maybe because it would show how thoroughly enmeshed it was in unionist killers' lives.

I don't think Mr. Top Orangeman gets to decide if relations with the republic are the worst in many years over MDH and his snub.

That article is one very bias man's opinion and nothing more