The murder of journalist Lyra McKee by a dissident republican group in Derry has shocked and angered people all over Ireland.
In the wake of the tragedy, many have condemned a republican group who marched down O'Connell Street in Dublin over Easter weekend, with some comments on social media mocking the appearance of those who took part.
Dr Mary McAuliffe, historian and lecturer in gender studies at University College Dublin, asked in a tweet that people refrain from "body shaming" the participants, feeling that the focus should be on their actions rather then their appearance.
Would appreciate if all body shaming of #Saoradh stopped. Body shaming is a major tactic of the alt-right, esp against women, let’s not imitate them. Saoradh are vile men & women not because they are overweight, but because of their deeds. Focus on those. #stopbodyshaming
— Dr Mary McAuliffe (@MaryMcAuliffe4) April 23, 2019
Speaking on The Last Word, she explained: "We're turning this into a joke, and it's not a joke."
Aoife Barry, Deputy News Editor of The Journal, agrees that falling back on "lazy stereotypes can turn the conversation into something it shouldn't be about."
However, journalist Joe O'Shea feels that ridicule is acceptable in this case: "People are feeling powerless by what they saw at the weekend."
"These people crave legitimacy, and the one thing we can do is ridicule them."
