Irish anti-gay marriage protester makes embarrassing slip-up during rant live on TV

Speaking during a television debate in Cork, Michael O'Leary accidentally condemned straight marriage

Michael O'Leary takes the microphone

An Irish man’s rant against gay marriage on a national television debate went amusingly awry after he inadvertently opposed straight marriage as well.

Last week’s episode of The People’s Debate saw presenter Vincent Browne reduced to giggles after audience member Michael O’Leary shouted: “We don’t want to see men and women getting married!”

The topical Irish television programme sees audience members participate in the conversation around national issues, last week focusing on the upcoming May referendum on gay marriage.

Taking the microphone, Mr O’Leary tells the already chuckling audience: “Is this a way for corrupt politicians to come out and say they are in favour of gay marriages?

“We have family values and no politician or party should be coming out and calling for a yes vote. I say it’s shaming, we want family values and we don’t want to see men and women getting married!”

Unfortunately for the somewhat irate Mr O’Leary the audience promptly bursts in laughter – a reaction matched by Mr Browne.

Later wrestling control of the microphone back, the seemingly unembarrassed audience member clarifies: “We don’t want to see two women getting married, we want to respect our family values.”

The Irish parliament is planning to hold a May referendum on giving gay marriage equal status in Irish law in the staunchly Catholic country.

Leo Varadkar, Ireland’s health minister, became the country’s first openly gay minister when he opened up about his sexuality during a live radio interview in January of this year.