Northern Ireland

UUP MP apologies for tweeting photo of bonfire with tricolour

Danny Kinnehan at the East Antrim and South Antrim constituency counts at Valley Leisure Centre in Newtownabbey in 2015. Picture by Stephen Hamilton, Press Eye 
Danny Kinnehan at the East Antrim and South Antrim constituency counts at Valley Leisure Centre in Newtownabbey in 2015. Picture by Stephen Hamilton, Press Eye  Danny Kinnehan at the East Antrim and South Antrim constituency counts at Valley Leisure Centre in Newtownabbey in 2015. Picture by Stephen Hamilton, Press Eye 

ULSTER Unionist MP Danny Kinahan has apologised for posting a photograph on Twitter which showed him standing in front of a Co Antrim bonfire with an Irish tricolour placed on top of it.

The South Antrim representative posed for the photograph while holding a cheque for charity.

Mr Kinahan said it had been an error of judgment.

He said: "What I wanted to get across was here was a family, rural bonfire scene and they'd raised £600 for meningitis.

"They were having fun and this is Protestant culture - let's recognise each other's cultures and get on with it."

Mr Kinahan attended a Dublin ceremony last weekend recognising the Irish dead at the Somme.

Alliance leader David Ford tweeted: "On Saturday you showed respect for the Irish flag, as the state respected those who died at the Somme.

"Do you approve of this hate?"

A number of other Irish flags and Sinn Fein election posters were burned during other Eleventh Night bonfires.