Bacik disagrees with Labour councillor on Lebanon pager attacks

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

A Labour councillor was wrong to say the pager attack in Lebanon was “one of the greatest anti-terrorist strikes ever”, the party’s leader has said.

Dozens of people were killed and thousands were injured in shock electronic device bombings, in which thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah detonated on Tuesday and Wednesday last week.

Civilians were among those killed and injured, including children. Responsibility for the attack has been widely attributed to Israel.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin said he believed the attack was in violation of Geneva Convention rules on indiscriminate attacks.

Later on September 18th, Labour councillor for Louth Pio Smith commented on the strikes.

In response to a social media post which alleged that Hezbollah had purchased the devices from a shell company owned by the Israeli State, Mr Smith posted on X: “This definitely is one of the greatest anti-terrorist strikes ever and Hezbollah actually paid Israel in the process.”

At the launch of Labour’s alternative Budget on Friday, party leader Ivana Bacik said she had not seen Mr Smith’s comments.

However, when pressed on whether she agreed with them, she replied: “I don’t.”

Mr Smith has been contacted for comment.