Sorry but apologising for free speech is silly

WHAT were the Freemasons apologising for? Who wanted them to say sorry?

- LARISSA NOLAN

I don't know anyone going: Thank god those Freemasons apologised for hosting that Tucker Carlson interview with Conor McGregor, I can rest easy now.

Nobody cared. It's fine. We live in a free country where democracy means those with unpopular views are not shut down on the grounds of being distasteful.

The definition of liberal is the willingness to accept or respect behaviours and views different to your own.

Being pro free speech - even for those you profoundly disagree with - used to be a left-wing position.

Ireland is not some censored state persecuting those who don't toe the party line, as McGregor sees it. Although judging by the reaction from the Freemasons, you'd be forgiven for thinking it might be.

Why seek forgiveness for hosting McGregor in their Grand Lodge? The views of the venue should have nothing to do with who is allowed to hire it. They're supposedly an apolitical organisation.