Too quick to take offence

THE outrage directed at a BBC presenter for asking a provocative question to an Irish minister was very revealing (MoS, January 27).

John Humphrys had asked Helen McEntee if the Brexit deadlock could be resolved by Ireland leaving the EU.

This question provoked outrage in Ireland. Does it not occur to Humphrys’s Irish critics that he was being deliberately provocative? That’s what all his interviews are like, seeking to put politicians on the spot with tough or surprising questions.

Dara Calleary of Fianna Fáil completely missed this, expressing dismay that Humphrys thought Ireland quitting the EU was the answer to everything. He’s an interviewer, he was giving an opinion. The Irish reaction exposes a growing anti-British mood here that will do Ireland no favours.

Brian O’Toole, Dublin 18.