Northern Ireland

Sinn Féin criticises DUP assembly member for saying residents of Northern Ireland are British

The DUP's Paul Frew. Picture by Cliff Donaldson.
The DUP's Paul Frew. Picture by Cliff Donaldson. The DUP's Paul Frew. Picture by Cliff Donaldson.

SINN Féin has criticised a DUP assembly member for saying residents of Northern Ireland are British whether they "like it or not".

North Antrim MLA Paul Frew told a man he was debating with on Twitter that if he was from Northern Ireland "you are British just as I am. You may not wish it but... it's a fact of life and democracy that we are both Irish and British. To deny that is just silly".

Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan last night described the comments as "arrogant and insulting in the extreme".

"The Good Friday Agreement enshrines parity of esteem and… just and equal treatment for the identity, ethos, and aspirations of both communities, alongside the right to hold both British and Irish citizenship.

"Paul Frew would do well to take note this and afford people the respect they deserve."