IRA statue linked to Nazis could be removed: Varadkar
LEO Varadkar has said the statue in Dublin of an IRA leader who was also a Nazi collaborator may need to be removed.
The Taoiseach said a statue of Sean Russell, an Irish republican who fought in the 1916 Rising and was a leader during the War of Independence, may need to be removed.
In recent days, statues of people linked to the slave trade have been taken down globally.
Asked on RTE 2FM if Ireland has a racism problem, Mr Varadkar said: “I think we do. Every country in the world has racism to some degree. Thankfully, we do not have the kind of problems with police brutality that we see in the United States, we have a very professional police force.
“If you look at the Traveller community and how they are treated and spoke about — that’s a form of racism. Anyone who grew up in Ireland mixed race like me would be aware of the fact that when you look and sound different — people treat you differently and it is not nice.”
Former IRA chief of staff Russell’s legacy is controversial as he died in 1940 on a German U-boat after travelling to Nazi Germany in an effort to secure support for the IRA’S efforts to overthrow the Free State and reunite Ireland.
Mr Varadkar said: “We have a few of our own statues we may need to take down. There is a statue in Fairview Park in Dublin of an Irish republican man who was also a Nazi collaborator... I think any statues that come down should come down legally... let’s not engage in violence.”
In May, Mary Lou Mcdonald said Russell was not a Nazi collaborator, but a “militarist” operating on the principle of “Britain’s problem was Ireland’s opportunity”.
In 2003, Ms Mcdonald spoke at a commemoration for Russell. She recently said Russell’s involvement with the Nazis was “misguided”, but insisted she did not regret speaking at his commemoration.
Mr Varadkar said as a mixed race person growing up in Ireland, he has experienced racism.
“It is not something I speak about too much, but it has not held me back. I have had a lot of privileges that have helped to counteract that.”