Northern Ireland

'No offences' in sectarian wedding song, say police

The couple at the centre of the controversial wedding video
The couple at the centre of the controversial wedding video

NO offences were committed when a bride and groom sang sectarian lyrics at their wedding reception in Carrickfergus last week, a police spokesperson has said.

A video of the couple singing 'F*** the Pope and the IRA' to the tune of Tina Turner hit Simply the Best, went viral on social media.

The hit song was adopted as a loyalist slogan and anthem by Johnny Adair's notorious UDA 'C' Company unit.

Police said they had investigated the incident and had "conducted a number of enquiries" but no offences were detected.

Chief Inspector Michael Simpson said: “Each and every incident we deal with is treated on its own merits.

“The incident in Carrickfergus was investigated as a hate incident; legal advice was sought as to whether any of the actions constituted a criminal offence. No offences relating to the incident were identified."