Opinion

Further unacceptable DUP behaviour

The DUP was the only one of the main Stormont parties which was unable to find a single representative who was prepared to travel to Dublin for the official reception marking the visit of Pope Francis in August.

It has now emerged, as we reported yesterday, that the Ulster Unionist MLA Robbie Butler, was subsequently mocked by two of his DUP counterparts for accepting an invitation to the event.

Mr Butler said that one of the DUP figures referred to the Pope as `the antichrist' while the other blessed himself in a gesture of ridicule as they passed in a Parliament Buildings corridor.

Behaviour of this kind should have no place in 21st century public life and it is up to the DUP to demonstrate swiftly what action it is proposing to take against the individuals in question.