The board of Independent Newspapers was so stung by criticism following Mary Ellen Synon's comments that the Irish Independent's managing director, Mr Gavin O'Reilly (one of Dr A.J.F. O'Reilly's sons) issued an apology on Thursday on his and the board's behalf for the "distress and offence" caused by Miss Synon.
The board totally supported the objectives of the various bodies involved in the "celebration of the Paralympics in Sydney".
His statement continued: "The Paralympics, and indeed all forms of sport engaged in by disabled persons, represent the highest ideals of the Olympic spirit as expressed by Baron de Coubertin, the father of the modern Olympics, when he said that `The important thing is not to win but to take part'.
"Independent Newspapers (Ireland) Limited is committed to the aims, objectives and, importantly, the achievements of the Irish Paralympic team and will help in every way with the further successful development of a movement which expresses the finer ideals of our society."
