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'God's payback': US church blames marriage vote for Berkeley tragedy

Westboro Baptist Church has posted pictures of members kicking the tricolour after the same-sex marriage vote
Westboro Baptist Church has posted pictures of members kicking the tricolour after the same-sex marriage vote Westboro Baptist Church has posted pictures of members kicking the tricolour after the same-sex marriage vote

AN AMERICAN church has claimed the deaths of Irish students in Berkeley was a punishment from God for the Republic's vote to legalise gay marriage.

The notorious Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas described the tragedy near San Francisco as "God's payback".

In a series of sickening posts on Twitter it blamed the deaths on last month's referendum vote in favour of allowing same-sex couples to marry.

One tweet read: "Does this mean God is angry with Ireland? #IrishStudents! #noSSM! [same-sex marriage] 'God is angry with the wicked every day.' Psalm 7:11."

It added: "Irish students die in balcony collapse, Berkley. You should've heeded our warning, Ireland! It's not too late!

"Truly help the Irish families of the Berkley balcony collapse and appeal fag marriage."

Westboro church last month declared that "God hates Ireland" after the Republic voted by a majority of 62 per cent to change the constitution to allow gay couples to marry.

The controversial church has posted pictures of members kicking the tricolour along the street, describing it as the "fag flag".

It was also mocked after initially placing the tricolour the wrong way round, leading people to believe it was an attack on the Ivory Coast flag.

Westboro church is comprised mainly of members of the extended family of its founder Fred Phelps.

The small religious group first came to the attention of Irish audiences in a BBC documentary by Louis Theroux in 2007.

It runs the website godhatesfags.com and has held anti-gay protests at the funerals of US military personnel, claiming the deaths were due to "America's tolerance of homosexuality."