Northern Ireland

Nigel Farage tricked for third time into reading out republican messages

Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage
Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage

NIGEL Farage has once again been duped into broadcasting birthday greetings with a hidden Irish republican message – the third time the former UKIP leader has been tricked within a fortnight.

In his latest unwitting shout out on the Cameo platform, the former MEP gives a special mention to Sean South, the Limerick-born IRA man shot dead by the RUC in 1957 during a New Year's Day attack on Brookeborough barracks in Co Fermanagh.

His killing is remembered in the song Sean South from Garryowen.

Sean South
Sean South Sean South

In recent weeks Mr Farage has been tricked into toasting a birthday by exclaiming 'Up the 'Ra' and sending belated birthday wishes to 'Gerard' – a thinly-veiled reference to former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, who the former GB News presenter said would be celebrating at a mythical pub called Tiocfaidh ár lá’s in Brighton.

The messages are posted on Cameo, a service where well-known people can record messages for a fee.

Mr Farage charges £73 for personalised videos and £1,095 for shout outs to businesses.

In the latest congratulatory video, the ex-Ukip leader wishes the best of luck to a "lorry load of volunteers" who are taking part in a fundraiser called “amadán” – an Irish word for a fool.

Mr Farage admitted he had been hoaxed by the first of the three controversial messages and said he always rejected unsuitable messages, but one can occasionally slip through the net.