Canadian Ambassador to Ireland Kevin Vickers, left, wrestles with a protester during a State ceremony to remember the British soldiers who died during the Easter Rising at Grangegorman Military Cemetery, Dublin Thursday May 26, 2016.

Canadian Ambassador to Ireland Kevin Vickers, left, wrestles with a protester during a State ceremony to remember the British soldiers who died during the Easter Rising at Grangegorman Military Cemetery, Dublin Thursday May 26, 2016.
Photo Credit: PC / Brian Lawless

Canada’s ‘undiplomatic’ ambassador becomes Internet sensation

Kevin Vickers, Canada’s ambassador to Ireland, raised a few eyebrows when he manhandled a protester during a commemorative ceremony in Dublin on Thursday, proving that the former parliamentary sergeant-at-arms remains a security officer at heart despite his diplomatic credentials.

Vickers, 59, who was lauded for his heroism for shooting a gunman who opened fire on Parliament Hill on Oct. 22, 2014, confronted the man who was shouting that the reconciliation ceremony, held in remembrance of more than 120 British soldiers who died during the Easter Rising 100 years ago, was a disgrace for Ireland.

The footage of the incident shows Vickers running up to a man who was shouting “it’s an insult,” grabbing him by the arms and pulling him away, as police and military honour guard stood by.
Police eventually arrested and handcuffed Brian Murphy, 46, a manager of a youth and community centre in Dublin, and Vickers returned to his place to observe the rest of the ceremony.


The video of Vickers dragging Murphy away from the ceremony became an instant Internet sensation. But his actions elicited a fiery debate on social media between his supporters and detractors.

Sensitive matter

The commemoration of the British dead is a sensitive matter in Ireland, especially since hundreds of Irish nationalists were also killed in 1916, the leaders of the uprising were executed and thousands of citizens arrested after Britain declared martial law on the island.

Vickers’ actions have raised questions whether his undiplomatic intervention will affect bilateral ties between the two countries, but it seems Ireland is ready to let this one slide.

Jennifer Bourke, a spokeswoman for Ireland’s foreign affairs minister, said Vickers “reacted instinctively to prevent the individual’s encroachment and the Gardai (Irish police).”
Murphy, who has been charged with breach of public order, told The Canadian Press he had expected to be arrested, but didn’t anticipate international attention paid to his protest against what he sees as unjust arrests of Irish Republicans. “Things are grand,” he said.

With files from the Canadian Press

Categories: International, Politics
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