Ian Paisley gave 'apology of sorts' over Robin Swann chant

Ian Paisley joined Sir Van Morrison on stage in Belfast last week

Health Minister Robin Swann has said he received an "apology of sorts" from Ian Paisley after the politician joined Sir Van Morrison in a chant against him.

Last week Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP Mr Paisley and the singer were filmed at a hotel chanting that the health minister was "very dangerous".

Mr Paisley initially defended his action, claiming it was "banter".

On Monday Sir Van posted a video posted on social media in which he defended his criticism of the minister.

The incident took place at a dinner event at the Europa Hotel in Belfast several hours after four gigs by Sir Van at the same venue were cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions on live music.

Sir Van Morrison has written protest songs about coronavirus lockdown measures

Sir Van, who has been a critic of the restrictions, particularly the ban on live music, took to the stage and addressed the crowd of about 140 people.

He then began the "Robin Swann is very dangerous" chant and invited Mr Paisley, the North Antrim MP, to join him.

'Mixed up in my business'

In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Belfast-born Sir Van explained that he stood by his chant against Mr Swann.

He said Mr Swann "decided to get mixed up in my business" after the Brown Eyed Girl singer wrote protest songs about coronavirus lockdown measures last year.

Sir Van referred to a comment made by Mr Swann in Rolling Stone magazine in which he described the musician as dangerous due to his anti-lockdown views.

That remark was derogatory, said Sir Van.

In his video, Sir Van also criticised ex-First Minister Arlene Foster for singing a Frank Sinatra classic in public on Friday.

Mrs Foster - who resigned as first minister of Northern Ireland on Monday - sang the opening lines of That's Life at a press conference in County Fermanagh.

Sir Van said that before his scheduled gigs at the Europa Hotel last week, he and the hotel owner "were told that we would be arrested if anybody sang".

"Same old story - there's one rule for them and another rule for the rest of us," he said.

'Apology anything but speedy'

On Monday Mr Swann said he received an "apology of sorts" from Mr Paisley after the DUP politician joined Sir Van in the chant against him last week.

He added that the apology had been "anything but speedy".

In a statement on Friday, the North Antrim MP said he was "put on the spot" by the singer inviting him on to the hotel stage.

"I certainly don't believe Robin is dangerous - I think the parody and sarcasm of that comment is obvious," he said.

The chant by Sir Van Morrison and Ian Paisley happened at a dinner event at the Europa Hotel

"There is a balance in all of these matters and at times we get them right and at times wrong.

"We are all entitled to our own views on how the lockdown has been managed."

'Awkward situation'

On Monday DUP leader Edwin Poots said Mr Paisley had apologised for the incident, which "shouldn't have happened".

Mr Poots said he spoke to the MP after watching the video and they agreed that his reaction after being called on stage "was wrong".

"Ian agreed with me that he would apologise to Robin Swann and he has subsequently apologised," he said.

"I think Ian got himself into an awkward situation.

"He has apologised for his wrongdoing and I trust that will be the end of the matter."

Ian Paisley's "apology of sorts" was "anything but speedy", says Robin Swann

Doug Beattie, the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, which Mr Swann represents, said Mr Paisley should have made his apology in public.

Mr Beattie said he was "disappointed" by how the DUP had handled the situation.

"I have been told that Ian Paisley contacted Robin by telephone on Saturday and said that he was sorry for any hurt caused but still stood by his claims that the verbal assault made on the health minister... was parody," said Mr Beattie.

• Hotel forced to cancel Sir Van Morrison concerts

• Van Morrison to start live music ban legal action

"If it was parody Van Morrison clearly wasn't in on the joke.

"Ian Paisley and the DUP leadership cannot spin that away.

"How many apologies from Ian Paisley does it take before somebody in the DUP realises that there is a problem?"

Northern Ireland's chief medical officer Dr Sir Michael McBride said Mr Swann would not be distracted "from the vital work he is doing".

"It's Covid that's dangerous and we should never, ever forget that and we should not let anyone convince us otherwise," said Sir Michael.