T-Shirt Company 'Can't Apologise Enough' For Hutch/Kinahan Clothing
The company behind controversial clothing about Dublin's gangland feud has apologised. Craic Clothing had advertised t-shirts and hoodies online that were branded with the slogans ‘Team Kinahan’ and ‘Team Hutch’.
Community activists described the clothing as ‘outrageous’ and said it showed no compassion for the victims of the feud.
The hoodies’ and t-shirts appeared on the Dublin based website ‘Craic Clothing’ and were branded with the slogans ‘Team Hutch’ and Team Kinahan’. On the Hutch clothing it said – ‘oldschool’ and ‘northside’ with a picture of a knuckleduster.
While on the Kinhan t-shirts – it read ‘southside’ and cartel’ with a picture of a gun. It also had a disclaimer saying the company ‘takes no responsibility if you're stupid enough to wear this around town and get 'injured'.
Chairperson of the Joint Policing Committee, Councillor Daithi De Roiste, says it completely trivialized the gangland feud which has claimed the lives of 12 people.
"What we've seen with these t-shirts in one sense is glamourising it like it's Love/Hate like Nidgey on the streets - this is real life", he explained.
Following the backlash, the company Craic Clothing has pulled the clothing from its website. In a statement sent to us via the company’s Facebook page, which has since been deactived – a spokesperson said it was a stupid idea that didn’t have too much thought put into it and that they can’t apologise enough for any offence that was caused.
Community activist in Dublin’s north inner city, Seanie Lambe, said the trivialisation of the feud just "perpetuates the stereotype that working class areas are up their eyes in drugs and gang warfare."
He says this bears no relationship to the lives of the vast majority of ordinary people.