Northern Ireland

Sinn Féin councillor's 'British occupation' tweet deleted

Sinn Féin councillor Catherine Nelson
Sinn Féin councillor Catherine Nelson Sinn Féin councillor Catherine Nelson

A SINN Féin councillor has deleted a tweet hitting out at secretaries of state as "symbols of British occupation" who should be "sent home" after it prompted complaints online.

Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon councillor Catherine Nelson responded on Wednesday evening after Julian Smith was announced as the new secretary of state.

He was appointed to replace Karen Bradley following a major cabinet reshuffle by new prime minister Boris Johnson.

Ms Nelson hit out at Mr Smith, Mrs Bradley and their predecessors James Brokenshire and Theresa Villiers.

"Brokenshire, Villiers, Bradley, Smith - all symbols of British occupation. None will ever serve the interests of the people of this island," she tweeted.

"Their focus is & will remain maintaining what little is left of their crumbling empire. Only way to send them home #IrishUnity #Think32"

However, her comments were criticised by Ulster Unionists including MLA Doug Beattie.

He tweeted: " 'British occupation'...... Seriously @CatSeeley I didn’t think you’d go for this rhetorical & damaging language."

"I’m British and I am home."

His colleague councillor Julie Flaherty, who also sits on Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, called on Ms Nelson "to apologise for her remarks and remember that words have consequences".

"Hundreds of thousands of British citizens live in Northern Ireland," she said.

"We are home and we aren’t going anywhere."

Ms Nelson later deleted the tweet and wrote: "We both know I meant British Secretary of States in the event of Irish independence and not Unionists or British Citizens."