George Hook Causing Big Controversy Online With His Comments This Evening

Newstalk Presenter, George Hook is again in the middle of a social media storm after his friendly comments about Spanish Facist Leader General Franco whom he described as his "favourite benevolent dictator."

The comments have created such a stir that there have been calls for him to be taken off air again just weeks after he returned to Newstalk.

Franco is my favourite "benevolent dictator" Neutrality, tourism, the monarchy and look what happened after he was gone? Compare with Tito
— George Hook (@ghook) January 31, 2018

He added to this by saying: “Interesting the retrospective on Franco when one considers how many Irish travelled there on holiday during his time in charge.”

“There is a serious point to be made as Spain faces break up with Catalan independence. Yugoslavia break up meant war. And people think Trump means WW3.

“I know what Franco was, the question to be asked is how is the world to be governed and those who ignore history live to repeat it.”

However, people were quick to get back to Hook and give him their thoughts.

i think millions he killed would disagree with you there but they do not have a voice
— Garrett Mullan (@garrettmullan) January 31, 2018

There was nothing benevolent about fascism. Franco was a mass murderer who brutally repressed opposition. Ask the families of the murdered trade unionists if he was benevolent
— Breandán Ó Conchúir (@Breandn) January 31, 2018

Time to go George and stay gone this time please .
— david dunne (@thesuir) January 31, 2018

Benevolent dictator? Are you serious? The White Terror, concentration camps, mass graves, arbitrary executions, forced labour, imprisonment without trial, medical experiments, state kidnap of children, exile, violent oppression/repression of opposition, 1/2
— Stiofán Ó Maicín (@stevemacken) January 31, 2018

Hook has since returned to the radio station to do a weekly show on Saturdays following his comments about rape.

He apologised for his comments at the time stating that: “It was wrong of me to suggest that any blame could be attributed to those victims or that bear any responsibility in the crimes committed against them.”