Northern Ireland

DUP will not attend All-Ireland football final

Party representatives will not attend Armagh V Galway clash this Sunday

Emma Little-Pengelly has a go at hurling alongside Michelle O'Neill at St Paul's GAC in west Belfast.
Emma Little-Pengelly has a go at camogie alongside Michelle O'Neill. No DUP representatives are expected to attend this Sunday's All-Ireland football final
By Connla Young, Security Correspondent

The DUP will not be in attendance at Sunday’s All-Ireland football final despite the participation of Armagh.

It has been reported that neither Deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengelly, who is originally from Markethill in Co Armagh, or the north’s sports minister Gordon Lyons will be present.

Sinn Féin First Minister Michelle O’Neill will also not be there but the party will be represented by economy minister Conor Murphy, who is an Armagh native.

Follow live updates of the All-Ireland final here.

The failure of the DUP to attend Gaelic football’s biggest day comes just months after Ms O’Neill and junior minister Aisling Reilly attended Windsor Park for a Northern Ireland women’s soccer match.

First Minister Michelle O’Neill  attends The Uefa Women's Nations League match between Northern Ireland and Montenegro on Tuesday at Windor Park in Belfast. PICTURE COLM LENAGHAN
First Minister Michelle O’Neill at Windsor Park earlier this year

Ms Little Pengelly and Gordon Lyons also attended along with GAA president Jarlath Burns.

After the match Mr Burns presented the Ms Little Pengelly with an orange Armagh scarf.

Former DUP first ministers Arlene Foster and Peter Robinson have both attended high-profile GAA games in the past.

In a statement the Department for Communities confirmed Mr Lyons will not be in attendance on Sunday.

Neither the Executive Office or DUP responded when contacted.

Justin McNulty was an All-Ireland winner with Armagh in 2002 
Justin McNulty in action for Armagh

Assembly member Justin McNulty, who helped the Orchard County to the All-Ireland title in 2002, said he was surprised that the DUP will not be there.

“I thought they would want front row seats to see the Orangemen of Ulster go into battle.”

Meanwhile, the PSNI has said it will not be officially represented on Sunday.

However, as with previous years it is running an advertisement in the matchday programme.

Recent figures show that there remains a significant imbalance in the religious make-up of the PSNI.

Members of the Protestant community currently make up over 65 per cent of the force, while the Catholic community, comprises more than 32 per cent.

Of the civilian staff employed by the PSNI, more than 78 percent are Protestant, with over 18 percent are Catholic.

Pamela McCreedy, the PSNI’s Chief Operating Officer said: “We have been and will continue to engage with all communities, particularly those who are underrepresented within our organisation.”

“As we commence our planning for our next student officer campaign, we will continue to advertise in a range of publications as part our outreach approach.”