Sinn Féin has called for a top US news channel to apologise after an alleged insulting remark about the IRA hungerstriker Bobby Sands.
A FOX News Channel presenter is reported to have made an "impromptu quip" about Sands on the anniversary of his death.
The presenter is alleged to have said on air: "On this date Bobby Sands died after 66 days on a hunger strike in prison in Northern Ireland...The moral of the story – eat more often."
The incident has provoked outrage amongst Irish-Americans, with an internet petition calling for a boycott of the channel until a full apology was issued, circulated within hours of the broadcast.
Last night, a spokesperson for the FOX News Channel was unavailable for comment.
A Sinn Féin representative said they had sent a letter to the station expressing their disgust at the reported remarks.
"I cannot imagine what motivated such insensitive and blase remarks, especially emanating from a professional newscaster during an on-air broadcast with an American national television company," said Antrim representative Sean Mac Eachaidh.
"I sincerely believe such remarks are uttered in deepest ignorance or indifference."
He called for an immediate apology to the family of Mr Sands.
