Today FM presenter Eamon Dunphy has apologised for making remarks which he said might be interpreted as glamorising drug abuse. Mr Dunphy, who was quoted in a Sunday newspaper interview as complaining that "good coke" was unobtainable in Dublin, said yesterday he should not have made the comments attributed to him.
"I am fully cognisant of the havoc and destruction which drug abuse has caused to far too many families in Ireland and I certainly do not wish to undermine the work of many groups and individuals in their efforts to discourage abuse," he said in a statement.
In the interview in Ireland On Sunday, Mr Dunphy was quoted as saying he would take cocaine if it was offered, adding: "I would be a regular use of marijuana but I am not a regular user of coke.
"You can't get good coke in this town. I am telling you the truth. You asked me a question; if someone offers me a line of coke what do I do? I take it. I don't go looking for it and would never do anything indiscreet or indiscriminate."
The outspoken journalist is also quoted as saying he would love to try crack but again complained that it was impossible to buy on the streets.
In his statement yesterday, Mr Dunphy said he wished to withdraw "any comments which might be interpreted as condoning the taking of drugs or, indeed, as in some way glamorising drug abuse. I should not have made these comments.
"I wish to unreservedly apologise for my remarks to the very many people to whom they have caused offence."
Mr Dunphy's comments in the interview were criticised yesterday by a spokesman for the Garda National Drugs Unit, who said they were "irresponsible". He was particularly surprised that the journalist would say anything about crack cocaine "because of its effects".
