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An Irish MP is taking heat for his groping behaviour toward a female colleague during a most sensitive debate in the Dublin parliament, or Dail. MP Tom Barry grabbed fellow MP Aine Collins and pulled her onto his lap as the house re-convened on debate of a contentious bill to liberalize abortion in the Catholic land. Cameras caught Barry grabbing Collins as she passed his seat. He holds her there for four or five seconds as she struggles to get up. As she does so, Barry appears to give the MP a slap on the bottom. No doubt the behaviour is egregious at any time but in the middle of the abortion debate it seemed especially outrageous. Barry apologized to Collins and called the action “disrespectful and inappropriate.” The Irish Times described the incident as “embarrassing, inappropriate and reprehensible,” calling Tom Barry a “boor.” “Barry’s actions were humiliating not just to Collins, but to women everywhere,” the Times wrote. “Is that how male politicians view women? As playthings they can grope anytime they want? … Barry should be ashamed of himself, because we are. He says he’s ‘mortified,’ but would he be so mortified if he wasn’t caught?” The abortion bill passed on Friday, legalizing limited abortions in Ireland for the first time.
