Kielty 'sorry' for McCann jokes

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Northern Ireland comedian Patrick Kielty has apologised for jokes he made about missing child Madeleine McCann.

Some members of a Dublin audience walked out of his show on Wednesday over his jokes about Kate and Gerry McCann and their daughter.

Madeleine, four, of Rothley, Leics, went missing during a family holiday in Praia da Luz in the Algarve on 3 May.

In his show, Mr Kielty made jokes about the case and asked the audience to vote on the McCanns' innocence.

Some people felt this was offensive and walked out.

A spokeswoman for Mr Kielty said he apologised to anyone who may have been offended.

'Sensitivity'

She said that more than 1,000 people were at the show.

"The small number of walkouts reflects the sensitivity of those few people, rather than the content of the show," she said.

"Patrick is a comedian and the material was written to reflect the media's changing attitude towards the case and should be taken in that context."

She said Mr Kielty had performed the exact material in London last week with no complaints.

Fellow Irish comedian Sean Hughes also apologised after making a joke around the McCanns' visit to Pope Benedict.

He said he had not intended to hurt the family.

"I would never in any way denigrate any of their feelings. Losing a child is the worst thing you can go through."