Higgins accuses the politicized title of the NI event of declining the invitation; says DUP criticizes a little a lot

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President Michael D Higgins has resisted his decision to decline an invitation to a church service in Northern Ireland next month on the grounds that it is political in nature and commemorates the centenary of the Partition of Ireland.

Last night, the President broke his silence on the controversy and also strongly denied any suggestion of snub on Queen Elizabeth, who is due to attend the service at Co Armagh in October.

Speaking in Rome on a four-day official visit to the Italian capital, President Higgins said his issue was the title of the event, which would mark the centenary of Ireland’s partition and training from Northern Ireland. He said the title was politicized and it was inappropriate for him as head of state to attend the event.

What [had started out as] an invitation to a church service had in fact become a political statement, he said. I was also called the President of the Republic of Ireland. I am the President of Ireland.

In a reference to Queen Elizabeth, he said: There is no question of a snub to anyone. I am not snubbing anyone and I am not part of the boycott of anyone of any other event in Northern Ireland.

I wish their service good luck, but they understand that I have the right to exercise discretion as to what I think is appropriate for my presence.

A bit too much

In response to DUP politicians who claimed he had snubbed the event, he replied: It’s a bit much, to be frank with you. I have been to Northern Ireland to participate in events.

Often there hasn’t been a lot of traffic from the DUP people who are criticizing me now, he added.

He said he would not reverse his decision. We are past the stage now and I think it’s unfortunate.

He said on the day of the event he would host the Statistical and Social Survey Association of Ireland at ras an Uachtarin.

The controversy threatened to eclipse President Higginss’ audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Friday morning.

In 2016, Mr Higgins withdrew from a dinner at Belfast Town Hall to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising as he said there was no more support between the parties for the event and that he did not want to get caught up in a political controversy.

Calls for reconsideration

Yesterday, further calls were made in Northern Ireland for the president to reconsider his decision. DUP chief Jeffrey Donaldson said he wrote to Mr Higgins asking for an explanation and urged President Higgins to change his mind. He also said it was hard not to conclude that there is politics at stake here.

Alliance MP Stephen Farry also said he hoped Mr Higgins would reconsider his decision, as did the independent group of senators from the Oireachtas.

However, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood has defended Mr Higgins and his record on reconciliation, saying people shouldn’t read too much and should take his word for it when he says he can’t be. the.

Foreign Minister Simon Coveney is due to attend an event on Friday marking the centenary of the founding of Northern Ireland.

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