Michael Lowry says he stuck two fingers up to opposition after being provoked

By Cate McCurry, PA

Independent TD Michael Lowry who stuck up his two fingers to members of the opposition said it was “taken out of context”, and claimed he was provoked into making the gesture.

The TD was captured sticking up two fingers towards People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy, also said it was not made with malicious intent.

The gesture, which happened following hours of chaos, shouting and heckling in the Dáil, has been widely condemned.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin called on Mr Lowry to apologise for the incident, but also criticised Mr Murphy, accusing him of “waving his camera” in the faces of other TDs.

Says it all. Michael Lowry sticks two fingers up to the Irish people in the Dáil this afternoon! pic.twitter.com/CySACCNnzf

— Sinn Féin (@sinnfeinireland) March 25, 2025

Mr Lowry, who was a key negotiator for a group of independents who agreed to support the formation of the Government, was previously found by a tribunal to have behaved in a way that was “profoundly corrupt to a degree that was nothing short of breathtaking”.

In a statement, Mr Lowry said on Wednesday: “The gesture I made in the Dáil yesterday was not made with malicious intent.

“I made an errant gesture under provocation.

“Unfortunately, the gesture has been taken out of context. Unlike others, I have always respected the rules and values of the Dail.

“My gesture was not intended to be offensive or to cause any offence, and I regret that it may have been seen in such a way.”

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald accused Mr Lowry of giving the two fingers to the people of Ireland.

Speaking to Mr Martin during Leaders’ Questions, Ms McDonald said: “(A) man you once described as a rogue politician, who you called on to resign his Dail seat because of the findings of corruption against him, now pulls the strings as kingmaker in your coalition, and gives the two fingers to the opposition to democracy and to the Irish people.

“The Ceann Comhairle (Verona Murphy) bulldozed all rules to get the government’s plan over the line, to protect the very deal that put her in her position, a deal brokered by her mentor, Michael Lowry, who sat smiling and giving the two fingers to the people of Ireland while the chaos unfolded.”

Mr Martin told the Dáil: “I think anybody who uses two fingers in this House to another person is wrong, and that person should apologise. And that would apply to Deputy Lowry.

“I equally think, and you should face up and acknowledge this, that any deputy waving cameras in the face of other deputies is wrong and was never a part or parcel of Leinster House.

“Equally, I would say the intimidatory barracking of newly elected TDs, either independent or not, simply because they support the government, is a new low that I’ve never witnessed before in this house.”

Labour leader Ivana Bacik said: “In every sense, two fingers have been shown to the opposition and to the people of this country, because as of yesterday, a fundamental principle has been subverted.

“That is the simple truth, that you cannot be in government and in opposition at the same time, and you’ve subverted that fundamental principle of the separation of powers.”

“I do agree with you on one thing, it was deeply wrong of any deputy, of Michael Lowry, it was deeply wrong of him to give two fingers in the national parliament. Deeply wrong, deeply disrespectful.

“You said it was wrong. I hope you’re going to call on him to apologise. I hope you, Ceann Comhairle, will call on him to apologise.”

Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan said the “enduring” image of Tuesday will be Mr Lowry giving the two fingers.

“A TD who has been found to be grossly corrupt, laughing it up as you did his bidding, really sums it all up,” he said.

“The derision and the contempt that is at the heart of this government was clearly exposed. Michael Lowry was cock-a-hoop, and who can blame him? You just ripped up more than 100 years of parliamentary procedure for him.

“The question we all want answered is, why? Why are you jumping through the hoops for Michael Lowry.”

People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger said: “If you’ve any qualms whatsoever doing business with Michael Lowry, somebody who gave two fingers to the public yesterday and then went and gaslit the population, that he hadn’t actually done it, somebody who can lie at the drop of a hat like that.

“Have you any qualms at all about doing business with them?”