Northern Ireland

Arlene Foster joins Co-operation Ireland board

Arlene Foster has joined the board of Co-Operation Ireland
Arlene Foster has joined the board of Co-Operation Ireland Arlene Foster has joined the board of Co-Operation Ireland

ARLENE Foster has been appointed as a director of cross-border charity Co-operation Ireland.

The former DUP leader joins her predecessor Peter Robinson on the board of the peace-building body.

Since being ousted as DUP leader, Mrs Foster has resigned as an MLA and now works as a presenter on GB News, as well as part-time for a law practice.

She said she had "long admired the work carried out by Co-operation Ireland" and was "delighted" to be joining in an unpaid role.

While DUP leader, Mrs Foster attended the Ulster senior football final. However, the party also snubbed Pope Francis when he visited Ireland in 2019 and she famously compared Sinn Féin to a hungry crocodile.

In an interview with Patrick Kielty for a documentary marking 20 years since the Good Friday Agreement, the former first minister said she "was not sure if she would be able to continue to live here" if Ireland was united.

The appointment last night drew criticism on social media.

Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard appeared to poke fun and Tweeted: "Anybody that knows anything about Arlene or Co-operation Ireland knows this is a perfect fit – fruitful future ahead no doubt."

"Satire is dead," said one Twitter user, while another made reference to her 'crocodiles' comment and added "cooperative isn't a word I’d use to describe Arlene Foster".