Row As Belfast Councillor Dons Linfield Scarf

Unionist and nationalist members of Belfast City Council came to blows during last night's meeting after DUP Councillor Ruth Patterson put on a Linfield football scarf.

Councillor Patterson donned the scarf while proposing a motion to recognise the team's manager David Jeffrey, who is stepping down at the end of the season.

She said she wanted the Council to recognise Mr Jeffrey's work as a football manager and social worker, but her fellow Councillor, Sinn Féin's Jim McVeigh, took exception to her choice of attire.

He asked the house whether Councillor Patterson's actions were appropriate, given the common perception of the Belfast team as a 'protestant' club, to which DUP deputy Lord Mayor Christopher Stalford replied he should stop acting like a "petulant child".

But Mr McVeigh called for second opinion from the council's legal officer and refused to let the matter rest. The deputy Mayor told Mr McVeigh he had turned the meeting into "a circus".

The council Chief Executive then informed Sinn Féin Lord Mayor Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, who had left the meeting temporarily to attend a charity photo opportunity.

(IT/JP)