Northern Ireland

DUP leader Arlene Foster tells how she 'probably have to move' if border poll produced United Ireland

Patrick Kielty interviewed Arlene Foster for the documentary, Mt Dad, The Peace Deal and Me. Picture by BBC NI
Patrick Kielty interviewed Arlene Foster for the documentary, Mt Dad, The Peace Deal and Me. Picture by BBC NI Patrick Kielty interviewed Arlene Foster for the documentary, Mt Dad, The Peace Deal and Me. Picture by BBC NI

DUP leader Arlene Foster has revealed she would "probably have to move" if a border poll produced a united Ireland.

Speaking to comedian Patrick Kielty, the former first minister said she would not be "able to continue to live here" if the majority of people in Northern Ireland wanted to join the Republic.

Mrs Foster was speaking on Mr Kielty's documentary, My Dad, the Peace Deal and Me - a programme marking 20 years since the Good Friday Agreement in which he opened up about the loyalist murder of his father.

Mr Kielty was just 16 when his father Jack, a businessman and prominent GAA member, was shot dead by the UFF in 1988.

During the documentary, he returns to his home village and visits various locations across Northern Ireland to meet with those who have been involved in the peace process as well as those affected by the Troubles.

Among those was Mrs Foster, whose own father survived an IRA attack.

The DUP leader discussed growing up in the border area of Enniskillen, where her father worked as an RUC officer. She told the documentary how the IRA tried to kill him on the family farm, claiming someone locally had set him up in the attack.

She also spoke about being a passenger on a school bus when the driver was targeted by an IRA bomb.

Questioned by Mr Kielty about her feelings towards the Good Friday Agreement, Mrs Foster outlined her reservations.

"It was principally about the release of the prisoners, which to me was anathema," she said.

"How can you allow people who have committed some of the most heinous crimes just walk free?"

Mr Kielty also asked the DUP leader about her thoughts "if the majority did want to join the Republic of Ireland how would it feel to be a unionist, outside of the UK?"

"First of all I don't think it's going to happen," Mr Foster said.

"If it were to happen, I'm not sure that I would be able to continue to live here, I would feel so strongly about it.

"I would probably have to move."

Mr Kielty asked Mrs Foster where she would move.

"Well that's the question," she added.

"It's not going to happen so I don't have to worry about it anytime soon."