A former Dundee United striker has apologised for making bizarre comments about Limerick and its citizens.
In an interview with the Daily Record in Scotland, Jordan Moore, described Bruff as the "weirdest village ever" and Limerick city as a place "full of gypsy horses".
“They call the area Stab City. On every second lamp post there is a horse tied against it,” he told the newspaper.
However, on Tuesday evening, Mr Moore apologised for the remarks, saying any distress he caused was “completely unintentional”.
“My comments have been taken out of context and sensationalised, particularly about the town of Bruff. The people in the town were extremely nice to me during my time there and I am sorry for any offence and distress I have caused. I have been a bit naïve and it is a harsh lesson learned for me. Again, my apologies.”
In the newspaper article, Mr Moore, who stayed in Limerick on a three-month loan with Limerick FC, was quoted as saying: “There must be 20 horses in every street you walk down. But if you tried to cut the horses loose then they would kill you – supposedly.The police came and moved all the horses away one day. The next (day), the guys who owned the horses, smashed every shop and put all their cows in the shops and in schools as well. The farmers who had cows in their fields put them in the shops, the Spars and supermarkets, for revenge. The police gave them all the horses back and told them to watch what they were doing.”
The village of Bruff, 17km from the city, where Limerick FC have set up a soccer academy in the local former FCJ Convent secondary school, also came in for further criticism from Mr Moore. “I stayed in a place called Bruff. It was the weirdest village ever. The locals would jump on the backs of horses and just ride along. There were no cars. Or at least there was more horses than cars.”
Moore said he couldn’t afford to rent in Limerick, so he stayed in the local convent, which he claimed was haunted after a nun had previously “committed suicide” in his room.
Moore also claimed he had trouble securing his wages from Limerick FC: “I wasn’t getting paid on time and I told them it couldn’t continue. They wanted me to stay for the rest of the season, but it is all a lot more sane over here.”
The mayor of Limerick City and County, Cllr Liam Galvin, said he was "horrified and disgusted" at the article. "It's very disappointing. He calls Limerick stab city. Okay, there was a nickname on our city, but that is long gone."
Fine Gael councillor for the Bruff area, Bill O'Donnell, described Mr Moore's comments as "childish"."Who is this guy? Is he for real? It's an imbecilic article, an imbecilic interview.Bruff is an amazing place."
A Limerick City and County Council spokesperson said they had been in contact with Mr Jordan about the comments. “We have also received the email he sent to Limerick FC chairman Pat O’Sullivan apologising for the article. We accept this apology and welcome, in particular, the clarification that the people of Bruff were extremely nice to him during his time there.
“This is what we have come to know and expect of Bruff, which is a very hospitable and welcoming town and anything but what was portrayed in the article, which Jordan now clearly states was unintentional.”