Irish Man Faces Trial for Threatening Jewish Tourists in France with Holocaust Remarks

An Irish citizen known as Paddy was arrested and will stand trial in October after threatening an Australian Jewish tourist couple in a supermarket near Avignon, France. The 60-year-old man was released on restrictive conditions pending his criminal trial, where he faces charges of death threats and justifying crimes against humanity. The maximum penalty for these offenses could be five years in prison and a fine of up to 45,000 euros.

The incident occurred in mid-August at a large supermarket in the La Ponte commercial area near Avignon. Initially, the interaction was friendly, with Paddy introducing himself and shaking hands with the couple. However, the conversation quickly deteriorated when the topic shifted to Israel and Ireland’s policies, and the couple revealed their Jewish identity. At that point, Paddy reportedly expressed regret that Hitler "did not finish the job," a statement later confirmed by the woman and captured on video. He also threatened the woman explicitly, saying, "Get away from me before I shoot you in the head."

The video of the confrontation was widely shared on social media by the Australian Jewish Association, garnering hundreds of thousands of views. The couple did not immediately file a complaint, citing unfamiliarity with their rights and imminent departure from France. After returning to Australia, they contacted Jewish community security and filed a police report in Nice. French gendarmerie investigators arrested Paddy in Avignon two days later.

The investigation was jointly conducted by Marseille and Avignon police units. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez praised the arrest, emphasizing the need for a firm response to antisemitism. Other officials, including the Ministers of Tourism and Anti-Discrimination, condemned the incident, stressing that no tourist should face threats or discrimination based on identity or beliefs, and that references to the Holocaust must never be normalized or tolerated.