Walsh makes limited apology for remarks

Following weekend criticism, manager says he was careless the way he hadphrased his comments

Mr Louis Walsh yesterday apologised for saying the Special Olympics were "little more than an ego trip" for the organisers after his comments sparked a storm of controversy.

The music manager told The Irish Times last week Irish people were not very interested in watching the event, and said the Games were not "nearly as important as a lot of people like to think they are".

Yesterday, however, he said his remarks were not directed at the thousands of volunteers who were helping to organise the games.

But he added that some people "up front" were still using it as a public relations stunt, and said he was only saying in public what many people thought in private.

"It was never my intention to insult anybody, especially the tens of thousands of people that work on the Special Olympics behind the scenes.

"I would never want to hurt or insult anybody, and I apologise to anyone I did hurt or insult."

Mr Walsh, who manages two of the acts taking part in the opening and closing ceremonies, said he had been careless in the way he had phrased his comments.

"I think some of the people up front are definitely using it as a PR stunt. I am not going to name names - I will be in even more trouble then," he told RTÉ radio. "It was a bit careless of me to say it was an ego trip for the organisers, but I think it is definitely an ego trip for certain people involved in it."

His comments led to widespread criticism from ministers over the weekend.

The Minister for Arts, Tourism and Sport, Mr O'Donoghue, described the comments as "very insensitive", and the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Ms Coughlan, said she was "very disappointed".

A number of senior members of the Special Olympics organising committee, including Formula One team owner Eddie Jordan and former ambassador to the US Mr Sean Donlon, also rejected Mr Walsh's comments.

Following Mr Walsh's apology, a spokesman for the organising committee, Mr Julian Davis, said it was time to move on.

"The comments were laughable. To be honest, Louis Walsh isn't even on our radar screen. We've no wish to give any further publicity to him. I think the reaction to the Games from around the country will defy everything he has said."

The chairwoman of the National Disability Authority, Ms Angela Kerins, said Mr Walsh's comments were very ill-advised and welcomed his apology.

"My experience is that the people of Ireland are very enthusiastic and engaged with the Special Olympics. The hottest tickets in town are the ones to the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games."

Mr Walsh yesterday restated his opinion that little would be done for the disabled community once the Games were over.

"They are going to get public attention for about 10 days or so. But what's going to happen to the tens of thousands of disadvantaged families who don't have the resources and for whom the Government have not done their duty?

"These people are entitled to the same care every week and every year and they won't get it. A lot of public figures use the Special Olympics as a great photo opportunity and a PR stunt for them.

"That is what I meant. I wasn't getting at the people involved in the Special Olympics or the actual show itself, because I think it is going to be a great show."