Northern Ireland

DUP ministers visit Ibrox during Glasgow Cop26 summit to pay respect to Walter Smith

First Minister Paul Givan beside a portrait of late Rangers' manager Waler Smith inside Ibrox
First Minister Paul Givan beside a portrait of late Rangers' manager Waler Smith inside Ibrox First Minister Paul Givan beside a portrait of late Rangers' manager Waler Smith inside Ibrox
By John Manley

DUP ministers visited the home of Rangers FC during the Cop26 summit in Glasgow to pay their respects to Walter Smith.

First Minister Paul Givan and Agriculture and Environment Minister Edwin Poots laid a wreath outside Ibrox, where fans have been marking the club's former manager's passing.

The former Scotland, Rangers and Everton manager died last month, aged 73.

The ministers are understood to have briefly been invited inside Ibrox, where former Belfast DUP councillor David Graham is employed as Rangers' head of communications.

In a Facebook post, Mr Givan said Mr Smith's "character and leadership was second to none".

"He will be remembered by the football community across the world," he said.

"To Rangers' supporters, he was much more than just a football manager. Walter was a friend to many, a leader, an ambassador and all-time legend."

The Executive Office, which is understood to have funded the first minister's trip to Glasgow, said his decision to visit Ibrox was a matter for the DUP.