Monaghan Apologises For Controversial Bombing Remarks

LORD OF THE RINGS star DOMINIC MONAGHAN has apologised for his controversial comments about a terrorist bombing in his native Manchester, after he told a U.S. radio station he thought the 1996 blast did the city centre “a huge favour”.

More than 200 people were injured in the IRA attack, but the actor spoke out earlier this month (May10) to insist the tragedy prompted a much-needed regeneration of the area, which was once a hotbed of crime.

He explained, “When I was growing up there… it was much rougher and then the IRA did one of the greatest favours that they’ve ever done for us - they planted a bomb in the town centre of Manchester. They then blew up the town centre and the English government gave us a billion pounds to rebuild the town centre… so the town centre is really cleaned up.”

Monaghan was slammed by U.K. officials, including the area’s Member of Parliament (MP) Tony Lloyd, who said, “Bombs in public places are not a laughing matter.”

And now the actor has spoken out to clear up his comments, insisting he “did not mean” to offend anybody.

In a statement, Monaghan says, “As a fiercely proud Mancunian, I regret the confusion surrounding the comments I made about the bombing of the Manchester city centre. I did not mean to play down or make light of the enormity of the tragedy that took place.”