One of the protestors who was removed from Sunday’s Holocaust Memorial Day event has described it as a “very traumatic moment” and accused the President of ‘antagonising’ Jews.

Ahead of the event, the Jewish Representative Council urged President Higgins to pull out of the event, citing community unhappiness with his remarks about the conflict in the Middle East the previous year. 

President Higgins declined and during his speech said he hoped people in Israel and Gaza would “welcome the long-overdue ceasefire for which there has been such a heavy price paid.”

As he spoke, a number of attendees got up and turned their backs to the President, after which security escorted them out of the event. 

On The Hard Shoulder, one of the protestors, Lior Tibet, said there had been a “lot of debate” within the Jewish community about what to do if President Higgins “politicised” the event. 

“We chose, me and my friends, to go with turning our backs as we felt this is the most peaceful way of protest we can think of,” she said. 

“We contemplated shouting something or posters or just to do a walkout but we didn’t see why we should do a walkout from our event.

“Second of all, we didn’t want this to be considered a provocation and this is why we chose something so quiet and peaceful.” 

President Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina this afternoon attended the National Holocaust Memorial Day Commemoration at the Mansion House in Dublin. Your can read the President’s address at https://t.co/sK5cHfQ9Oe pic.twitter.com/a1Zy9c6wqN

— President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) January 26, 2025

Ms Tibet, who teaches modules on the Holocaust to students at UCD, said she was “definitely” surprised to be escorted out of the event. 

“When it happened I didn’t believe [it],” she said. 

“I couldn’t believe this is what is happening; it was a very traumatic moment for me. 

“I do remember that at some point, I told the security woman, ‘I’m a Jewish woman, how can you take me out of my event?’ 

“It was an unreasonable thing to happen.” 

President Higgins and his wife Sabina with Holocaust survivors Suzi Diamond (left) and Tomi Reichenthal (second left) as they arrive at a Holocaust Memorial Day event at the Mansion House in Dublin. Picture by: PA Images / Alamy

Ms Tibet said there were a “lot of problematic things” in President Higgins’ speech and that he should have steered clear of politics entirely at the event. 

“If you want to talk about the horrors of war and the horrors of genocide, there are so many other conflicts in the world you can use as an example,” she said. 

“And not just talk about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. So, the Holocaust is partly about the Jewish people, so attacking the Jewish State at this event, why? 

“You have so many other countries, so many other conflicts; if you want to talk about the consequences or the conclusions of the Holocaust, talk about whatever. 

“He chose to politicise it; he chose to antagonise [us] when he was asked by Tomi, the Irish Holocaust survivor, he was asked by [him] not to politicise this event.” 

President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina accompanied by Finance minister Paschal Donohoe arriving at a Holocaust Memorial Day event at the Mansion House in Dublin. Picture by: PA Images / Alamy

Today, Tánaiste Simon Harris defended the President’s speech and said he had been “clear” in his condemnation of antisemitism. 

“[He] rightly mentioned the situation in the Middle East as well,” he said. 

“But also calling very much for hostages to be released.”  

Áras an Uachtaráin has been contacted for comment.

Main image: President Higgins. Picture by: dpa/Alamy Live News.