DUP MP accused of attempting to mock Irish language

By Rebecca Black, PA

DUP MP Gregory Campbell has been criticised by Sinn Fein for a social media post which appears to mock the Irish language.

The Facebook post came after the East Londonderry MP was barred from addressing the Northern Ireland Assembly for a day in 2014, for failing to apologise for an Irish language parody.

He started an address to the Assembly then with "Curry my yoghurt", an apparent take on the Irish sentence "go raibh maith agat, Ceann Comhairle" which translates as "thank you, Speaker", and is used by some MLAs when addressing the chamber.

East Derry/Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell has come under fire for comments made last night about an Irish Language programme.

The MLA for Mid Ulster Emma Sheerin branded the comments posted by the MP on social media as ‘crass and offensive’. pic.twitter.com/62vKwHN3Uw

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) July 27, 2020

On Sunday, Mr Campbell referred to a programme on BBC Northern Ireland about a suspected German spy who had lived in Donegal during the Second World War, and was reported to have spoken Irish with a German accent.

"I vill not be tempted to ask vot is dis curried yoghurt mein herr," Mr Campbell posted.

Sinn Fein MLA Emma Sheerin called the post "crass and offensive".

"Comments posted on social media by DUP MP Gregory Campbell attempting to mock the Irish language and identity are crass, offensive and despicable," she said.

"When the Assembly was restored in January, DUP leader Arlene Foster said identities should be respected. Perhaps Gregory Campbell needs to reflect on the words of his party leader.

"It is long past the time that disrespect like this is allowed to go unchallenged and time the DUP genuinely embraced equality and respect."

Disagreement between the DUP and Sinn Fein over an Irish Language Act for Northern Ireland was a sticking point in political talks between the parties last year, ahead of the New Decade New Approach deal.