Liverpool supporter TD rapped over Sun campaign
A DUBLIN Fine Gael TD who is a keen Liverpool fan was criticised this week for his association with The Sun newspaper.
Noel Rock, who regularly tweets support for Liverpool, recently drafted legislation that would see a defibrillator in every school – after a campaign with The Sun.
In April 1989, 96 people were crushed to death at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield at an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. Afterwards, The Sun wrongly said that Liverpool fans urinated on police, pickpocketed dead victims and prevented emergency services from treating the injured. The paper has since been boycotted by many shops in Liverpool and many Liverpool fans.
Paddy Browne, president of the Dublin 15 Liverpool Supporters Club in Mr Rock’s Dublin North West constituency, said he doesn’t doubt the need for more defibrillators. But he labelled Mr Rock a ‘hypocrite’ for teaming up with the newspaper.
Speaking to the Irish Mail on Sunday, he said: ‘Two of my friends died in Hillsborough. I’m a Hillsborough campaigner. Last year, we planted a Hillsborough tree in the Phoenix Park and did a walk for 96 minutes. So we don’t do anything with The Sun.
‘I’d ask Noel Rock, what’s your story? What are you, a hypocrite? That’s what it is to me.’
When contacted by the MoS about the decision to campaign with The Sun, Mr Rock said: ‘I’m more than happy to support any campaign to have defibrillators installed in Irish schools.’