Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

KildareNow

Kildare news outlet issues apology for 'Paddy Jihaddy' April Fools' Day joke

KildareNow has said that the article was not posted by a member of its editorial team.

REGIONAL NEWS OUTLET KildareNow has issued a clarification and apology after coming under fire for what appeared to be an April Fools’ Day joke.

Earlier today it published an article under the headline ‘Jihadist annexes Kildare landmark’.

The article came in for a barrage of criticism on social media and was picked up by international media before being taken down earlier this afternoon.

In the article it was claimed that a man calling himself ‘Paddy Jihaddy’ had annexed the Hill of Allen and renamed the locality the ‘Hill of Allah’.

image A photoshopped image in the piece

In its clarification, KildareNow has said that it would like to:

Immediately distance ourselves from this posting and point out that the story was completely unauthorised and was not posted by a member of our editorial team.

It went on to say that it would like to: “apologise unreservedly to everybody who was rightly offended by the article which was extremely insensitive especially in light of the recent tragic events in Brussels and elsewhere.”

It has also said that a “full internal investigation” would take place to find out how an “unauthorised person” was able to post something to their website.

Read: Here are the best Irish April Fools’ Day pranks so far

Also: Take a break and try to solve this intense locker riddle

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
42 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peter Fechter
    Favourite Peter Fechter
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 2:08 PM

    Ah what harm…it was funny.

    377
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute phil
    Favourite phil
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 2:09 PM

    Please somebody had to be outraged. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ireland was turned into one giant safespace.

    205
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John S
    Favourite John S
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 2:53 PM

    Yes Peter but you and I aint part of the #outraged brigade looking for crap to complain about all day and to tell the whole world about their outrage, not realising that nobody cares about their outrage…..
    God, I’m getting outraged thinking about the imbeciles who would get outraged by a clear April fools joke…deep breaths….

    91
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Smeghead
    Favourite Smeghead
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 3:00 PM

    They lost credibility by apologising. Fools.

    106
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paddy Ryan
    Favourite Paddy Ryan
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 2:45 PM

    I caught the repeat of The Last Leg on C4 last night and they made the point that making fun of the lunatic Jihadis is probably the best thing the general public can do… I’d have to agree. We can run and hide, scared out or minds or we can openly ridicule them and their beliefs….

    175
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas Delaney
    Favourite Thomas Delaney
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 3:26 PM

    Yes, because the kind of people who behead children and burn people alive in cages are going to be put to shame by our ridicule.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paddy Ryan
    Favourite Paddy Ryan
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 3:56 PM

    If they become a “running joke” it will put young people off joining up. Take away their “coolness factor” and you take away new recruits.

    88
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Green Monkey
    Favourite The Green Monkey
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 5:25 PM

    I think North Korea were the butt of of jokes last year, now we are shittińg ourselves that they are on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon………..

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Awkward Seal
    Favourite Awkward Seal
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 6:34 PM

    They have a nuclear weapon. The reason they weren’t stopped is because they could shell Seoul with conventional weapons and flatten it before they could be stopped. Other than they are a joke.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Bonner
    Favourite David Bonner
    Report
    Apr 2nd 2016, 2:26 AM

    Bang on, Paddy.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Beachmaster
    Favourite Beachmaster
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 2:13 PM

    Faux news story leads to faux outrage.

    175
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane Corry
    Favourite Shane Corry
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 2:10 PM

    “It has also said that a full internal investigation would take place to find out how am unauthorised person”

    Sure…

    130
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Larry Doyle
    Favourite Larry Doyle
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 2:14 PM

    Like anyone would be stupid enough to believe that.

    93
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Canning
    Favourite Tony Canning
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 4:13 PM

    Absolutely, it’s funny. People are so easily offended.

    62
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute shanekeogh
    Favourite shanekeogh
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 2:17 PM

    It’s fashionable to be outraged these days, getting their g-string in a knot over an April fools, get a life people

    114
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cally
    Favourite Cally
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 2:24 PM

    Very funny…lighten up….

    98
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Des Doran
    Favourite Des Doran
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 2:39 PM

    Kildare Newspaper now offering,Free
    Sense of humor transplants, to all offended parties

    97
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paddy Ryan
    Favourite Paddy Ryan
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 2:17 PM

    Quick.. to twitter so I can voice my outrage…

    87
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anthony Byrne
    Favourite Anthony Byrne
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 2:56 PM

    Fcuk sake. Who cancelled April fools day

    80
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Declan Gaffney
    Favourite Declan Gaffney
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 3:10 PM

    What’s the problem, instead of just saying”je suis Charlie”, the acted like Charlie, should be applauded rather than attacked for a joke

    50
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Campbell
    Favourite John Campbell
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 3:06 PM

    I’m beginning to feel left out because I don’t seem to be outraged at anything but outrage itself!!!!

    49
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Wishie Jatt
    Favourite Wishie Jatt
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 4:04 PM

    While it certainly wasn’t the sharpest or indeed funniest piece of satire the only people who could validly feel offended by this are ISIS themselves.

    More great work by the perpetually offended.

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Awkward Seal
    Favourite Awkward Seal
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 6:40 PM

    Yep there’s the irony right there; “it will offend Muslims if we make fun of ISIS”. The thing is I don’t actually know who is offended. We didn’t even get any screengrabs of twitter outage this time.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kevin O'Shea
    Favourite Kevin O'Shea
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 4:00 PM

    Political correctness gone MAD.

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joanna
    Favourite Joanna
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 3:05 PM

    Everyone has a different sense of humour. I haven’t seen any “outrage” that everyone is outraged about but I understand that some would find it a bit tasteless. Each to their own and all.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seaghán Corcoran
    Favourite Seaghán Corcoran
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 2:59 PM

    Ah, bless…

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Who's Yer Man
    Favourite Who's Yer Man
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 3:48 PM

    Ah the auld “we were hacked” backtrack defence. Sure they were. Sure.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cally
    Favourite Cally
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 5:31 PM

    Some poor intern is going to lose their jobsbridge slot

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute William Boyd
    Favourite William Boyd
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 6:48 PM

    Apologise why?, why should we pander to an ideology that is anathema to any half assed liberal, because thats what the once great left has become half assed apologists1

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute William Boyd
    Favourite William Boyd
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 7:15 PM

    Israel is you know stinking from a regressive pov yet its one of the most open and multicultural societies on earth, Jews and Arabs live together without as much as a belch between them, the Palestinians know they could have a really better time because Israel has no intentions of wiping out the fastest growing population on earth, but its better to demonise Israel if it makes you feel better?

    Keep bombing Israel its sure to make your life better?

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anon Ymous
    Favourite Anon Ymous
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 6:13 PM

    I was wondering how long it would take for somebody to be ‘outraged’ by this.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Guy Incognito
    Favourite Guy Incognito
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 3:09 PM

    I’m not outraged, the odd tasteless joke is grand. This just wasn’t even remotely funny.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dublin Independence
    Favourite Dublin Independence
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 2:42 PM

    Shouldnt joke about things like that

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute TheBull
    Favourite TheBull
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 2:58 PM

    You absolutely should.

    82
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Goku
    Favourite Goku
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 3:19 PM

    If we don’t, the terrorists win!!

    51
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Matt Connolly
    Favourite Matt Connolly
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 4:08 PM

    I’m outraged and offended that you made an unfunny joke that Ireland has been cancelled

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Frank Buffalo
    Favourite Frank Buffalo
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 10:03 PM

    Father Ted…anyone…anyone?

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jho Harris
    Favourite Jho Harris
    Report
    Apr 2nd 2016, 1:00 AM

    I’m bloody outraged that they issued an apology. If anyone is offended because somebody made a joke about a murderous group who want all those who do not share their ideology killed, tough!

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kane Abel
    Favourite Kane Abel
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 5:58 PM

    Stupid response in all fairness, surely they would have preferred to be seen as having a questionable sense of humour rather than to be seen as a pack of fools with no security provisions in place?

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rosa Parks
    Favourite Rosa Parks
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 5:24 PM

    Well ISIS would do this wouldn’t they? Is it so far fetched

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute KevJ
    Favourite KevJ
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 3:50 PM

    There is always someone who gets it totally wrong

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fiona deFreyne
    Favourite Fiona deFreyne
    Report
    Apr 1st 2016, 10:53 PM

    I’m doing my very best to be outraged. I’m trying. Really trying. Sorry, I can’t manage it.

    Humour and mischief are a good response to terrorism. Humour undermines the sense of terror.

    3
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds