A DUP councillor has been criticised for sharing a Facebook post appearing to mock Syrian refugees.
Margaret Tolerton shared the post showing an adult in a pram alongside the caption, "First Syrian toddler arrives in Belfast!"
The former Lisburn lord mayor shared the image and caption on her social media profile after it was posted by another Facebook user.
Although the post mentions Syrian refugees, it appears to be in reference to the British government accepting children from the migrant camp in Calais.
Questions have been raised over whether some of the migrants could be adults, with one Tory MP calling for mandatory dental checks – a proposal the British Dental Association branded "unethical".
Alliance Lisburn councillor Amanda Grehan described the online post as "disgraceful".
"I think we should be welcoming these children to Belfast with open arms," she said.
Ms Grehan said she would be surprised if her council colleague had knowingly shared the post.
"People should be more aware of what they are 'liking' and 'disliking' on social media. It doesn't give a good message out there to the public," she said.
By the end of the year almost 400 Syrian refugees will be settled in Northern Ireland under the government-led Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme.
Ms Tolerton could not be contacted for comment last night but a DUP spokesman said the party "supported Northern Ireland playing its part in the resettlement of refugees".
"However, there should be proper checks in place to ensure the system is not abused.
"This post appears to be a reference to concerns that some child refugees entering the UK were older than they claimed to be," a spokesman said.
"Whilst there are concerns about how the refugee situation is best handled, these points are not always best advanced through such posts on social media."
In 2013 Ms Tolerton also faced criticism while mayor of Lisburn for refusing to open a book of condolence following the death of Nelson Mandela.
