‘Off message’ Sinn Fein councillor deletes offensive Duke of Edinburgh post
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Following the death of Prince Philip on Friday, Mid and East Antrim councillor James McKeown (Seamas MacEoin) posted a message on Facebook, making a joke of his passing.
Linking the duke’s death to the return of Rangers FC from administration and going on to win a 55th Scottish league title, Mr McKeown said: “Wonder if Prince Philip will come back the same person after dying saying he’s 55 and still going strong.”
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Hide AdMr McKeown ended the message with emojis of laughing faces and the Irish tricolour.
East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson said it called Sinn Fein’s “respect agenda” into question.
In a Twitter message on Monday, posted along with an image of Mr McKeown’s message, the DUP representative said: “Quite disgusting comments from @sinnfeinireland councillor James McKeown following the death of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
“The respect agenda evaporating by the day. Will action be taken?”
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Hide AdMr McKeown’s message has since been removed from Facebook, but not before it attracted a number of scathing comments.
One Twitter message said: “And so it goes on, I just despair, honestly it’s like a play school playground.
“No sorry that’s wrong the kids there are better behaved and have more decorum and manners.”
Among more than 100 responses, one person posted: “Never agreed with you before Sammy about anything: this is simply unacceptable.”
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