New York mayor in controversy over 'inebriated' Irish comment

The mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, is in trouble with some of the city's prominent Irish-Americans after making a joke about public drunkenness.

Mayor Bloomberg has since apologised for his remarks

Speaking at the American Irish Historical Society, he said that normally when he walks by their building "there are a bunch of people that are totally inebriated hanging out the window, waving".

His comments provoked an outcry from New York's Irish community.

The chairman of New York's St Patrick's Day parade said, "he wouldn't make a joke about any other ethnic group".