Broadcaster Adrian Kennedy admits he 'lost it' after cursing at callers during Coolock debate

Broadcaster Adrian Kennedy has issued an apology to listeners after "losing it" with callers on his Opinions Matter podcast during a discussion about the riots in Coolock.

Gardaí rushed to the scene of a protest on Monday at the old Crown Paints warehouse in Coolock after a number of fires were allegedly started on the site earmarked for asylum seekers. 

Thirty people have been ­arrested so far in connection with the riots, with more arrests expected.

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The clashes between protesters and gardaí at the site of a proposed refugee accommodation centre on the Malahide Road in north Dublin featured on the latest edition of the popular podcast, with the debate descending into insults and anger when a caller backed the violent attacks on asylum seekers.

In an apology on Tuesday, Adrian Kennedy admitted that he "lost it in today's show", adding: "I used bad language and lost my temper with several callers, which was unprofessional."

"I apologise to all our listeners but i refuse to apologise to the the idiot who threatened us or the the other two callers who said horrific things. Thanks for your understanding."

In the latest podcast episode, aptly titled "Adrian & Jeremy Threatened Live On Air by Coolock Rioter", a caller called Jay told hosts Adrian Kennedy and Jeremy Dixon that he thought the protestors were "dead right with what they're doing getting out and smashing things up".

"Let's be honest, nothing else will be done, the peaceful way is not getting anywhere, it never has gotten anywhere, caller Jay continued.

"Nothing gets done until things start getting smashed up. People need to be hurt."

After being questioned about this rhetoric by Adrian, Jay said "the country is under attack", later adding the protestors "were fighting for their country".

Host Jeremy pushed the caller on this, saying the country was actually under attack "from our own kind", adding that there were no asylum seekers or refugees causing violence in Coolock yesterday.

Jay pushed the issue further, saying again that the country is under attack, and when asked about who was attacking by host Adrian, the caller said "from all these refugees, foreigners that are coming in".

Adrian asked again on the topic, questioning if the rioters in balaclavas causing damage to garda vehicles were "national heroes".

The tense exchange continued, with Adrian asking if they were heroes "why would they have to cover their faces up?"

"Because everyone has the phones out, doing the recording," Jay said.

"They were videoing themselves, the f***ing eejits," Adrian replied.

Both hosts were later brandished at traitors, with one female caller saying the duo "are not here for the Irish".

A caller named Melissa said the Gardaí "made a shame on the whole country", and proceeded to call host Jeremy a "headmelt".

A caller named Dean also chimed in, saying he agreed with Jay and Melissa that the rioters "are here to protect our country.”

"How did rioting do that? asked Adrian. "Blood needs to be spilled,” was the response.

"Blood needs to be spilled?” Adrian asked. He then called Dean a "gobsh*te’”.