Mattie McGrath apologizes for asking where Dr. Tony Holohan has been for the past few months

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Freelance TD Mattie McGrath has apologized at the Dail for asking where Dr. Tony Holohan has been for the past few months.

Earlier, while speaking about Leo Varadkar’s criticism of the returning medical director and NPHET on RTE’s Claire Byrne Live last night, the Tipperary rep had said that Dr. Holohan returned as John Wayne with his six pistols, swinging as if to to close the whole country ”.

The DT had asked: “Were you with the WHO (World Health Organization) during the last months, listening to them, or where were you?”

Dr. Holohan stepped aside from his position at the Health Department in July when it emerged that his wife was entering hospice care.

It returned to a storm of attention Monday when the government rejected NPHET’s advice on Sunday to move the nation to Level Five of the coronavirus restrictions, instead of opting for Level Three.

Irish Medical Director Dr Tony Holohan leaves government buildings in Dublin after meeting with senior government ministers.

Mr. McGrath then referenced and apologized for the comment in the Dail.

He said: “I made comments before about Dr. [Holohan] and asked where he had been for the past few months.

“I totally understand where he has been, taking care of his sick wife.

“I want to deeply apologize if I caused any offense.

“I was asking in the context of the Sunday night leak and all the furore … did we have any idea what impact it’s having on mental and physical health?

“I want to apologize to his wife and family for any damage caused.”

From left to right: Richard O’Donoghue, Mattie McGrath and Michael Collins during a press conference for the independent rural group at Leinster House in Kildare Street, Dublin.

Previously, the rural TD said it was “shocked” by the NPHET messages that “scared” people on Sunday night.

He said families, people with disabilities and businesses are being “terrorized” and that NPHET’s Level 5 “alarmist” message was “shocking.”

Mr. McGrath said it was “not time for mind games” and NPHET does not have to confront people at the polls and be held accountable.

He said: “They have to be reigns.

“NPHET just came out and did what it wanted.”

He said NPHET is totally “out of balance” and expressed that he was concerned about people’s mental health.

And that NPHET thinks they are “gospel” from “on high”, adding that it was “time for the government to call NPHET to order.”

The rural group Independent said they are not fully behind the government’s decision to place the entire country at level 3 because some counties have very low Covid cases.



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