Is it time to forgive Brian Cowen?

Former Taoiseach Brian Cowen has finally broken his silence on his Government’s role in the economic collapse and recently offered an apology of sorts. We asked our Facebook friends if they were now ready to forgive and forget? Here’s an edited selection of what they had to say.

June Neary: Sorry is so easy to say. Prove it by giving up your pension, then we might just believe that you mean it.

Dolores Barry Judge: You have got to be joking! He should be stripped of his pension or if he is a good man he would hand it back.

Brian Kearns: He might be sorry. I guess it’s real easy to be sorry when you and your family are financially comfortable for the rest of your life. I’m also sorry – sorry for the kids of today who have no future in Ireland because of his greedy Government who never cared for Ireland, just themselves. It must be nice to be rich and sorry.

Marjorie Richter: Not a cat in hell’s chance.

Jacqueline Ursula Lynch: Others who were worse than Cowen are not getting as much slagging off from the media, such as Bertie Ahern. Bertie, just like Blair, got out before the slump came so they could say:

“Everything was fine when I was in charge!

?

Jack Delaney: Too late, Biffo. Sorry is the easy bit but doing the damage is another thing.

Jackie Doyle: No way could we forgive him or ever forget the hardship he has put this country through.

Stephen Rooney: No I’m not ready to forgive Cowen for what he did. He shamed our nation making it a laughing stock. How many people’s lives have been destroyed by him and his cronies? People forced to emigrate not to mention the distress and hurt. We will be paying a high price for a long, long time for their actions.

Valerie Gorman: Is he going to give up his pension? Bet not!

Rónán Merrick: Where has he been hiding? It wasn’t in hardship wherever it was.

Vanessa Comiskey: Not in a million years. Our country is in ruins because of him and his party. Shame on you.