Archbishop lashes Tiernan for joking about Holocaust

Departing from his prepared sermon at the end of a Mass last night for teachers in Bray, Co Wicklow -- and without referring to Tiernan by name -- Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin said remarks attributed to an Irish comedian were "offensive to the Jewish community and offensive to all who feel revulsion concerning the Holocaust, one of the most horrific events in human history".

Tiernan was reported to have said he would have killed twice as many of the six million Jews liquidated in the Nazi Holocaust. "F***ing Christ-killing bastards," he reportedly added. "F*** six million? I would have got 10 or 12 million out of that. Two at a time they would have gone. Hold hands, get in there, leave us your teeth and your glasses." But in a defiant statement placed on his website, the uncontrite comedian had hit back at accusations that he made "anti-semitic" comments during a public interview at the Electric Picnic festival earlier this month.

Upset

Tiernan confessed that he was "greatly upset" that his comments had caused hurt to others, as that was never his intention, but he insisted he was "quite bewildered" that his interview had been taken so far out of context.