Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
PRINCE PHILIP 1921-2021
Recollections spark laughter in the Assembly Sinn Fein cllr’s ‘racist’ slur fury
THE Duke of Edinburgh’s sense of humour brought smiles to the Assembly yesterday.
MLAS gathered for a special sitting to remember Prince Philip who died on Friday at the age of 99.
The DUP’S Edwin Poots said: “He was known for his sharp mind, for his wittiness, and sometimes that got him into trouble so his quips could become gaffes... and as someone who does that, I appreciate the quandary he finds himself in.”
Independent MLA Claire Sugden recalled: “As a 27-year-old he questioned my life experience to be an elected representative. I wish I was just as quick in responding but I stood with my mouth open.
“Seven years later with more experience and more life I reflect on Prince Philip’s work, I do not think any of us, even if we are as fortunate to live as long as he did, will ever have the life experience that he had.”
UUP leader and former Royal Navy commander Steve Aiken said he had met the duke on a number of occasions, adding it was in the naval environment where the duke felt fully at home.
His party colleague Doug Beattie, an army veteran, also met the duke while serving.
He sported a tie he wore on their second meeting which happened at Sandhurst.
Mr Beattie said: “We talked about the knot in my tie. He said, ‘If you’re not an officer, you’re not allowed to have a Windsor knot in your tie, you have to have a different knot. What knot is that?’
“I said, ‘Well it’s not a Windsor knot, I’m not allowed it’. He said, ‘That’s ridiculous’ in colourful language.”
ASSEMBLY YESTERDAY
A SINN Fein councillor who reacted to Prince Philip’s death by saying “one less racist” has been criticised.
James Mckeown, who sits on Mid and East Antrim council, posted the message on Facebook followed by a smiling emoji with sunglasses.
In an apparent reference to Rangers FC, he also wrote: “Wonder if Prince Philip will come back saying he’s 55 and still going strong.”
Sinn Fein said he has since removed the posts, which it described as “offensive”.
Democratic Unionist MP Sammy Wilson said the posts were “quite disgusting”.