Traitors Ireland contestant Eamon O’Keeffe has admitted he deserved the “abuse” from his Garda colleagues after being eliminated from the hit RTÉ series but insists he has no regrets about playing the villain.
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The Tipperary native became the first Traitor to be ousted from Slane Castle on Monday night after a risky move against fellow contestant Paudie Moloney backfired.
O’Keeffe, who works as a Garda but told fellow contestants he was a courier, attempted to save himself by throwing Paudie under the bus. The move sparked a tense exchange at the roundtable, but ultimately led to his own downfall.
Speaking to Oliver Callan on RTÉ Radio 1, O’Keeffe said he relished the role.
It was a game. It was a brilliant experience. What a great craic it was. I wanted to give the country a villain to root against. Hopefully people enjoyed it and that was what the goal was and I think I achieved it.
Despite criticism from some viewers, O’Keeffe revealed his Garda colleagues have taken his TV appearance in good humour.
Look, I get some abuse off the boys in work but it’s all good fun, all good craic. It’s been brilliant. I’m getting good feedback. The lads thought it was a bit of a laugh and that’s what I set out for. I’m getting a good ridden but I deserve it.
O’Keeffe, who joined An Garda Síochána at 18 and spent much of his career in community policing, stressed he was only representing himself on the show.
Alongside fellow Traitor Katelyn Divilly, he attempted to engineer Paudie’s downfall but the plan collapsed, resulting in his own elimination.
Reflecting on the failed twist, he said he had no regrets.
In all fairness to Paudie, I done a video last night and I said, ‘Today should be a national holiday, Saint Paudie’s Day. He got rid of the last snake in Ireland’. Fair play to him. In all honesty, Paudie is a sound man. I’m looking forward to having a pint with him. Look, in gameplay-wise, I don’t know if Paudie’s the best game player in the game. I wasn’t either! It is what it is, I was just going to have the craic. I knew I wouldn’t be long for this world but in hindsight do I regret going for Paudie? No. Because from watching it back, Paudie has already thrown Katelyn under the bus. I didn’t want to be next. I took a shot and missed. It made for great television.
While many viewers sided with Paudie after the episode aired, O’Keeffe issued a public plea, urging audiences to keep the show in perspective.
I think people just kind of need to realise what the game is. It’s called The Traitors. Three people are picked. They’re going to have to be a bit nasty and they’re going to have to do some things that aren’t great. I think if they can just realise it is a game and it’s entertainment. I think, personally, in all these shows you have to have a villain to root against. Last night’s moment, I think, will be talked about in Irish TV circles anyway for years to come because they finally got to see that cocky, ignorant, no-guessers come up.
Source: The Irish Sun