Taoiseach describes assassination attempt on Donald Trump as 'very serious and shocking'

Olivia Kelleher

Taoiseach Micheál Martin had described the assassination attempt on President Donald Trump at a media gala event in Washington DC in the US last night as “very serious and shocking.”

Speaking at a Chornobyl anniversary commemoration in Cork city on Sunday, Martin insisted that there can be “absolutely no place for violence in politics.”

“Our thoughts are with the police officer, the agent who was injured, and indeed with all those impacted by such an event.

"There is no excuse for the use of the gun in politics, and we have seen far too great a frequency and occurrences of political violence across the world and in the United States as well.

"We have to be extremely conscious and vigilant about the proliferation of gun culture as well, but it's quite shocking to see events of this kind unfold."

Meanwhile, he described as “reprehensible and outrageous and shocking” that the US President Donald Trump had been subjected to repeated attempts on his life.

He said that there was a need to be “conscious of our language in public life and demonising others.”

Martin added that we need to be very clear in our condemnation of political violence, particularly with an increase of incidences worldwide.