The Irish band was accused of “glorifying slaughter”.
The singer of The Wolfe Tones, Brian Warfield, has announced that is is suing RTÉ following an on-air argument with Joe Duffy on his Liveline programme.
Stemming from the Celtic Symphony controversy last year, the Irish band was accused of “glorifying slaughter” on the popular radio talk show.
Mr Warfield called into Liveline to address videos of Wolfe Tones fans singing along to the lyrics ‘Ooh ah, up the Ra’ at the Belfast Féile an Phobail festival.
After his appearance on the show, Mr Warfield said Mr Duffy was “totally out of line” with his comments and said that he will be looking to make a formal complaint to the broadcaster.
It was confirmed to the Irish Independent yesterday that Mr Warfield is being represented in the proceedings by WP Tweed, the firm headed up by prominent defamation lawyer Paul Tweed.
Wolfe Tones singer announces he is suing RTÉ after Joe Duffy spat
In a statement to the Irish Independent, WP Tweed said: “We confirm that we have issued proceedings in the High Court in Dublin on behalf of our client Brian Warfield.
“The proceedings are against RTÉ and relate to an episode of Liveline presented by Joe Duffy.
“It is unfortunate that our client was left with no alternative other than to take this significant step, but he now looks forward to resolving the matter to his satisfaction.”
The discussion over the controversial song boiled over last year after the Wolfe Tones’ performed at Electric Picnic in Stradbally.
The festival saw a reported record crowd for the band’s set, and featured loud chanting of the infamous lyrics by fans.
The debate over the usage of the phrase in the song was the topic of Joe Duffy’s Liveline show shortly after, where the host called Warfield’s music “awful, brutal old rubbish.”
But Warfield hit back, speaking to The Mirror after his band’s packed out performance in Stradbally.
“I think people got their answer about the right to sing a song and I think at the end of the day, the people of Ireland have spoken,” he told the publication.
“The young people of Ireland have spoken in numbers that Joe Duffy could never get.
“That song (‘Celtic Symphony’) is about Glasgow Celtic… Not many people know all the euphemisms that I put into that song, telling the story about Celtic and what they stand for and who they are and they always supported Ireland going back to the Troubles.
“People love it. It is a great song, I can’t stop people singing it and I don’t think anybody… people think they have the power to stop people singing that song… it won’t happen.”
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