Ambassador Kevin Vickers's tussle with protester in Dublin garners mixed reaction
Event attended by Vickers commemorated the 100 British soldiers who died during the Easter Rising
It's the other Canadian "manhandling" that's getting international attention.
On Thursday, Kevin Vickers, Canada's ambassador to Ireland, wrestled with a protester at an invitation-only ceremony in Dublin. Vickers became a household name after his confrontation in 2014 with a gunman in a hallway on Parliament Hill
The news didn't take long to cross the pond.
It was immediately applauded by some Conservatives, who praised Vickers's toughness. It was, after all, their party that appointed Vickers to his posting in Ireland last year.
Who needs superheroes when you've got Kevin Vickers? <a href="https://t.co/t4sYopCuUA">https://t.co/t4sYopCuUA</a>
—@jkenneyListen world, don't mess with Kevin Vickers. <a href="https://t.co/QZYNriYg3T">https://t.co/QZYNriYg3T</a>
—@MichelleRempelKevin Vickers is still kicking ass. <a href="https://t.co/XfU97M2Cgs">pic.twitter.com/XfU97M2Cgs</a>
—@stephen_taylorIt was a sentiment shared by other Canadians.
At what point do we find out that Kevin Vickers is actually Jason Bourne
—@PaulBrombyDND needs to develop some form of Bat-Signal for Kevin Vickers <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash">#cdnpoli</a>
—@markcritch"I wonder what it be like if Liam Neeson was a Canadian diplomat."<br>"Wonder no more! Presenting Kevin Vickers..."<a href="https://t.co/KdHVmv1e3l">https://t.co/KdHVmv1e3l</a>
—@NedPetrieFrom Kevin Vickers, to Sergeant-at-Arms, to Ambassador to Ireland, to AmBadAssador to Ireland. <a href="https://t.co/wQZ2H2TNDI">https://t.co/wQZ2H2TNDI</a>
—@Tony_DowneyThere used to be a street named after Kevin Vickers. It got changed because no one crosses Kevin Vickers and lives.
—@chadrogers<a href="https://twitter.com/CBCPolitics">@CBCPolitics</a> too bad he wasn't around when elbowgate was in progress
—@EmraldKatieIt wasn't just Canadians intrigued by the New Brunswick-born ambassador's fists. The U.K.'s Daily Mail called Vickers "the world's toughest diplomat."
Others, however, were critical of Vicker tackling a lone protester. The former House of Commons sergeant-at-arms was at an event commemorating the 100 British soldiers who died during the Easter Rising in 1916, when Irish republicans tried to overthrow control of the country.
I wonder how those celebrating Kevin Vickers' actions in Dublin would feel about China's ambassador assaulting Tibetan protesters in Ottawa.
—@M_KaranicolasCan’t fathom why that guy would protest only honouring British casualties of a conflict that killed 250+ civilians. <a href="https://t.co/P5f0005bdl">https://t.co/P5f0005bdl</a>
—@pdmcleodGuys, seriously? You think it's okay that Vickers attacked a man protesting British colonial rule in *Ireland*?
—@beisan<a href="https://twitter.com/GregConlin">@GregConlin</a> You Canadians never had the balls to fight for your independence. Still subjects of the British Royals. Pathetic.
—@MBATosserThe Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association posted a video on its Facebook page applauding the protester, and levelled criticism against the Canadian ambassador.
"Well done to Dublin IRPWA member Brian Murphy who earlier today protested at a British Army Memorial Event in Dublin," reads the post.
"Despite being assaulted by the Canadian ambassador Brian raised the issue of Justice For The Craigavon 2 Campaign."
