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Northern Ireland singer Van Morrison and DUP MP Ian Paisley Jr. have come under heavy criticism after launching a scathing attack on Northern Ireland’s Health Minister Robin Swann on Thursday evening.
Paisley joined the famous singer on stage at the Europa Hotel in Belfast after the last minute cancellation of a Van Morrison concert series due to public health restrictions in Northern Ireland.
A total of four Van Morrison concerts that were scheduled to take place at the Europa Hotel were canceled at the last moment on Thursday because live music is still not allowed under Northern Ireland’s coronavirus restrictions.
Morrison, who has been a vocal opponent of the Northern Ireland restrictions, gave a brief speech at the canceled concert Thursday night before inviting Paisley to join him in a repeated chant of “Robin Swann is very dangerous”.
Hotel management blamed the Stormont government for the cancellations, saying they had been given the green light to proceed. Thursday’s concert was replaced with a dinner and video from a previous Van Morrison concert.
“Robin Swann has all the power, he keeps us for over 15 months,” Morrison shouted to the crowd before inviting Paisley on stage.
It’s extraordinary. pic.twitter.com/M0jmA0JIf2
Stephen Nolan (@StephenNolan) June 11, 2021
Paisley faced extensive criticism for this incident.
Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie called the singing “disgusting” and said Paisley and Morrison should be ashamed of themselves.
“After watching the video of Ian Paisley and Van Morrison’s antics on the stage at the Europa Hotel in Belfast, I am absolutely disgusted with what I saw,” said Beattie.
“They should be ashamed of themselves. Two grown men who should know better, engaging in a very personal attack on the Northern Ireland Minister for Health.”
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood called the case “frankly embarrassing.”
However, Paisley defended his actions at the canceled concert and said he didn’t actually believe Robin Swann was dangerous.
The DUP MP said he joined the chants out of “parody and sarcasm”.
“Last night’s event was very sad for the live music industry. I was embarrassed and called on stage. I certainly don’t believe Robin is dangerous. I think parody and the sarcasm of this comment are evident, “Paisley said in a statement.
He said everyone has the right to have their own opinion on how the lockdown in Northern Ireland has been handled.
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