Armagh victory video criticism 'blown out of proportion'

The controversy around Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers celebrating Armagh's win against Galway in the All-Ireland senior football final on Sunday has been "blown out of all proportion," Sinn Féin's infrastructure minister has said.

The footage circulating online appeared to show officers in police vehicles waving flags and sounding their sirens.

The PSNI subsequently started an internal investigation, and members of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) met senior police officials on Monday.

Mr O'Dowd said: "That PSNI officer [has] done more for community relations with the nationalist and republican community than any glossy brochure or any glossy recruiting campaign would have ever done".

Minister O'Dowd said the officer from the video "should be allowed to go on about his duties"

Speaking for the first time about the incident, the MLA for Upper Bann said: “What he’s shown was that he was part of the community, that he was involved with his community and that he wanted to be part of the celebration of that community.

“So, I think that has been blown out of all proportion.

"That officer should be allowed to go on about his duties, and his duties are working with a community he serves,” he added.

The incident followed the Armagh GAA team winning the coveted Sam Maguire cup with a score of 1-11 against Galway's 0-13.

DUP MP Carla Lockhart, assembly member Keith Buchanan, and the party's policing spokesperson Trevor Clarke met officials at the PSNI headquarters on Monday.

Speaking to reporters following the meeting, Mr Clarke said they raised concerns "for the public and other police officers about the conduct of what we did see that took place at the weekend".

TUV leader Jim Allister said he would be contacting the police ombudsman, Northern Ireland's police watchdog, and the chief constable following a "disgraceful display by officers in a marked PSNI car tonight in Camlough".