Support for EU up in Northern Ireland as Catholics reject any border posts

Northern Ireland would vote more strongly to remain in the EU if there was another Brexit poll, a study suggested.

A total of 69 per cent would favour Remain if there was another referendum compared to 56 per cent two years ago, the UK in a Changing Europe project said.

Catholics were much more likely to support a united Ireland if there was a “hard exit” in which the United Kingdom left the customs union and single market.

The Irish border is one of the most vexed questions facing 0 Professor Brendan O’leary of Queen’s University Belfast negotiators who aim to strike a deal by the autumn ahead of the UK’S withdrawal from the EU next year.

Brendan O’leary, a visiting professor at Queen’s University Belfast, said: “The propor- tion wanting to Remain has risen since the 2016 referendum as more people have become aware of the possible costs and inconveniences of leaving the EU, as citizens and as employees or employers.”

The survey also found that one in five Catholics found the possible use of cameras at the Irish border “almost impossible to accept” and nearly one in ten Catholics (9 per cent) would support cameras being vandalised.

Respondents also expect protests against border checks to quickly become violent.