July 29, 2009 11:56 AM

Is Gates Related to Cop Who Arrested Him?

By
Anna Aulova
Topics
In The News
(AP)
Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and the police officer who arrested him at his home both actually share the same line of Irish heritage, according to a report on the Web site Irish Central.

Niall O'Dowd writes that Gates' Irish ancestry dates back to Niall of the Nine Hostages, a famous Irish chieftain who conquered much of Europe in the 4th century AD.

Similarly, the police officer who arrested him, Sergeant James Crowley, is also of Irish decent, with his heritage tracing back to the very same chieftain.

As is well known by now, the confrontation between the Harvard professor and Sgt. Crowley has sparked the nation's latest debate over racial profiling after Gates was arrested at his home two weeks ago. After a controversy in which even President Obama got involved, the two will meet for beers with Mr. Obama at the White House on Thursday.

According to the aritcle, which has been reprinted by ABC News, Gates discovered his roots during a PBS series back in 2008 and shares 11 out of 12 DNA matches with offsprings of Niall of the Nine Hostages.

"I'm descended from a white man. A white man who slept with a black slave. And we know from the analysis of my DNA that ….goes back to Ireland. So maybe you can help me," Gates said on the series

The genealogist on the series did confirm the Irish links.

In Gaelic, Crowley literally means "hardy warrior." Niall of the Nine Hostages was a prolific Irish warlord who created one of the most dominant strains due to his many children. The report says millions of Irish Americans may be descended from him.

O'Dowd calls the revelation as "one of the more extraordinary aspects of the incident which has sparked worldwide headlines."

Add a Comment See all 12 Comments
by whymayiask July 29, 2009 3:45 PM EDT
W...T....F??????

Lol
Reply to this comment
by kbbpll July 29, 2009 3:44 PM EDT
If you're going back to 400AD I bet you'll find we're _all_ related to these two boneheads.
Reply to this comment
by pollroller1 July 29, 2009 3:43 PM EDT
I've been married to an irish lady for 54 years. I can tell you from experience, you don't want to p*ss her off. LOL
Reply to this comment
by John_Merritt July 29, 2009 3:39 PM EDT
Please, what is with this Sanford, Palin, Gates, Crowley fixation on digging at the scab and creating a festering sore? Let it go CBS, ABC, FOX whoever it is that is sprouting wings on stories that don't even need to be published; let alone beat into the ground.

LET IT GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply to this comment
by woeisme1 July 29, 2009 3:50 PM EDT
I agree with you John. This whole thing from the beginning was two men who, I think, acted irresponsibly. They were BOTH reactionaires and the story needs to die.

The story appeals only to the fringe far, far out right wing, ding-a-ling party who just use it to further abase Obama.
by Questionews July 29, 2009 3:30 PM EDT
Maybe Obama should had offered whiskey instead of beer for the White House get together?
Reply to this comment
by Joe_NY_15 July 29, 2009 2:48 PM EDT
Gates has a dilemma, does he hate himself now ?
Reply to this comment
by woeisme1 July 29, 2009 3:51 PM EDT
Naw. The republicans hate enough for everyone already.
by parrots7 July 29, 2009 1:30 PM EDT
Not a good time for being a Repug - now that they may actually be family.
Reply to this comment
by rdupuy11 July 29, 2009 1:24 PM EDT
Irishmen; this explains the whole thing.
Reply to this comment
by endurorob July 29, 2009 1:13 PM EDT
Thats funny. Crowley doesn't look Irish.
Reply to this comment
by slmbro July 29, 2009 12:36 PM EDT
The world gets smaller everyday.
Reply to this comment
See all 12 Comments
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