There has been widespread criticism of comments by the former Stormont First Minister Ian Paisley, who said that the Irish government brought the Dublin-Monaghan bombings on themselves.

Mr. Paisley made the comments during what he says will be his last TV interview which will be broadcast on the BBC next week.

33 people and an unborn child were killed in the bombings in 1974, carried out by loyalist paramilitaries.

Northern Ireland's First Minister has distanced himself from comments. Peter Robinson says the government in Dublin could not be blamed for bombings.

Peter Robinson says the only people responsible for the attacks were the terrorists who planted the bombs.

The Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and the North's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness have also rejected the claims.

 In a two-part interview, the former DUP leader said he was shocked by the bombings and denounced them at the time - but he said he also could not tell people to "sit down and let them put a rope around your neck".

He also described discrimination against Catholics in the North as unacceptable - but described the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s as a front for a united Ireland.

The man behind the interview is journalist and author Eamonn Mallie. He spoke to Newstalk Lunchtime about the interview series.

The interview will be broadcast next week.