Daniel Capra, an adjunct professor at the prestigious Columbia Law School in New York City, inadvertently muttered profanity directly into his microphone after a student asked him to speak more slowly.

A video clip of the incident went viral on social media and was picked up by Above the Law and other US legal media outlets.

Professor Capra is understood to have apologised to the class and directly to the student.

Irish solicitor and mediator Bill Holohan told our sister publication Irish Legal News that the incident should serve as a warning to lecturers or conference speakers everywhere.

“Of course, [swearing] would never happen with an Irish person,” he added.