Northern Ireland

Britain First's Jayda Fransen slams Piers Morgan after Belfast court appearance

Britain First Deputy Leader Jayda Fransen leaves Belfast Laganside Courts, where she faced charges related to comments made about Islam 
Britain First Deputy Leader Jayda Fransen leaves Belfast Laganside Courts, where she faced charges related to comments made about Islam  Britain First Deputy Leader Jayda Fransen leaves Belfast Laganside Courts, where she faced charges related to comments made about Islam 

The deputy leader of far-right group Britain First has said Donald Trump was "railroaded" into offering to apologise for retweeting her videos.

Jayda Fransen accused Piers Morgan of misrepresenting her views to Donald Trump and said the broadcaster owed her an apology.

Fransen was speaking today after appearing in court in Belfast on a hate speech charge.

In an interview with ITV's Morgan, Mr Trump said he knew "nothing" about Britain First before sharing three of its videos in November.

She said: "In this instance he (Morgan) has completely misled the president of the United States by claiming that I am something I am not.

"I have challenged Piers Morgan to sit down with me and to discuss these absolutely horrific accusations that I am a horrible nasty racist - something I wholeheartedly refute.

"Let's have a civilised discussion, let's not mislead people and let's not proclaim to represent the entire UK by saying that I am a horrible racist, I should be condemned."

But Mr Morgan, who told his Good Morning Britain colleagues that he had told the president that Britain First "are racist, fascist people", hit back on Twitter, saying: "Here's my apology to her: 'Sorry I wasn't more offensive about you."'

Fransen said the retweet by the president caused a frenzy and prompted the British establishment to claim he was not welcome in the UK.

"He is very welcome and that is evidenced by the millions of people that have shown support for him right here in the UK," she said.

"The fact is this is about censorship, it is about the British establishment trying to censor the president of the United States and his social media presence and frankly accusing someone of being a horrible nasty racist with absolutely no evidence to back that up is irresponsible, immoral and I am the one that is owed an apology by Piers Morgan.

"I sincerely hope I receive it."

A judge today ruled that the prosecution of the Britain First deputy leader over remarks made at an anti-terrorism rally last summer will be reviewed again next month.

Fransen (31) made a brief appearance in the dock at Belfast Magistrates Court on Friday on two hate charges. Her leader Paul Golding (36) who faces charges related to the same event, was excused.

The case was adjourned as legal preparations continue for Fransen and Golding's trial on April 6.

A lawyer for the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) said there were no issues with case progression from the Service's point of view.

The two hate charges related to a speech Fransen made at a Northern Ireland Against Terrorism rally in Belfast on August 6.

She faces four unrelated charges after alleged threatening behaviour concerning remarks made on December 13 beside a peace wall dividing Catholics from Protestants in Belfast.

The comments, about Islam, were posted on social media. A message said the video was shot in the staunchly unionist Shankill area of west Belfast.

Fransen is from Anerley in south-east London.

Golding is accused of using threatening, abusive or insulting words at the same Northern Ireland Against Terrorism rally outside Belfast City Hall.

He is from Beeches Close in Anerley.

Britain First has enjoyed added prominence after US president Donald Trump retweeted three unrelated anti-Muslim videos posted by Fransen.

The group has since boasted that it received hundreds of new membership applications and its Facebook posts were reaching hundreds of thousands more users.

Fransen and Golding's Twitter accounts have been suspended.