Faggots spark an offal row...

A MAN who heaped praise on a local butcher’s faggots on social media had it removed by administrators – who deemed it hate speech.

Morriston resident Paul Lynch innocently made his post on Facebook earlier this month. He paid tribute to the traditional Welsh meatballs produced by butchers Thomas’s of Morriston.

But the post fell foul of Facebook moderators, who removed the post informing Mr Lynch it “goes against our community standards on hate speech”.

The original post read: “If you’re not buying Thomas’s of Morriston the butchers on Morriston Cross’ faggots on a Tuesday are you even a monkey?”

The post is likely to have come to the attention of administrators for the use of the word “faggot”, which in American parlance particularly can be used as a homophobic slur.

The use of the word “monkey” may also have alerted the social media platform, as the word can also have a derogative racial meaning.

However, Mr Lynch’s post was a reference to the meatballs with herbs produced by the butchers, and a commonly used nickname for people living in the Swansea suburb, the “Morriston monkeys”.

Mr Lynch said: “I asked Facebook to review their decision thinking a human would then check the context I had used the word and repeal their decision.

“However, when I received their second message upholding their decision telling they had found me guilty of hate speech I was perplexed and slightly annoyed at how unprofessional Facebook is regarding their community standards.

“I think Facebook telling me I’m guilty of hate speech is highly offensive and morally wrong.”

Bryan Thomas, the third generation of the family to run the shop, said: “People have been coming into the shop telling me that I am on Facebook.

“I tell them that I’m not on it personally, but they have been very appreciative and made kind comments about our faggots.

“They are very popular, and sell very well in this area”.

Facebook admitted it had made a mistake.

A spokesman said: “This post was removed in error. As soon as we realised our mistake, we restored the post.”