I have a very good knowledge of the attitude of such people like McLean.
Like a broken record here so sorry for all who have to read this. My wife is from Donegal, she was brought up just miles from the boarder.......my father in law a garda for many a year on the Republic side of the border.
I have been confronted by these types whilst regularly visiting Ireland in the early and younger days when I first met my wife, the things I have had to put up with and hear because I'm from Wales and being part of the UK is no ones business......all because they have picked up on my accent!
Luckily the vast majority in Ireland see McLean as the trouble making gobshite he is.
It's happened, it can't be changed, majority of people understand it was wrong as we stand here today........if people are still living with that hatred and bitterness today then that is another matter.
All well and good having your beliefs but there are ways about going about things and McLean clearly likes the attention.