Name of Simon Wiesenthal has been diminished - President
President of Ireland, Mary McAlease has claimed that the actions of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre in relation to the Hunt Meuseum, has diminished the good name of the Nazi hunter the institution is named after.
The president was touring the mid west region today, and took time out to visit the museum, which was established by the late John and Gertrude Hunt.
The Wiesenthal Centre had claimed that artefacts in the Limerick museum were booty from the persecution of Jewish families during the reign of the Third Reich. This claim was late last year proven to be incorrect.
Speaking to a gathering at the museum, she described how, when younger, Simon Weisenthal was a man she had great respect for, however the actions of the Wiesenthal Centre had diminished his name.
January 21st, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Well done to Mary McAlease. The Wiesenthal Centre was way out of order. Still no sign of an apology from them.
January 22nd, 2008 at 6:44 pm
I believe they’ve taken umbrage at President McAleese’s remarks. Was mentioned on the “Pat Kenny Show” this morning but I didn’t hear much of it.
Doesn’t sound like an apology is forthcoming - if at all. Arrogance of a type I’d expect from those who persecuted the people whom the Weisenthal Centre claims to represent.
January 22nd, 2008 at 7:03 pm
I don’t think the President would have said something like that lightly. The Wiesenthal Centre are now saying her comments were “uncalled for”. They can make unfounded allegations against people but when someone shoots back,my don’t we get all precious. They did great work but are still not above criticism.
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Mary McAleese was spot on, and if the Wiesenthal Centre don’t like, maybe they should have had it’s own house in order and she wouldn’t have had to make them in the first place. I see the poll on rte.ie, is overwhelmingly in support of teh presidents comments.