Call for PSNI to review Sinn Fein MLA Martina Anderson’s tweet ‘like Pastor Jim McConnell case’

Martina Anderson's offensive tweet, which she later deleted.

In 2015 the Newtownabbey Pastor, then 78, was prosecuted for an online broadcast in which he called Islam “satanic” and “heathen”.

Now TUV leader Jim Allister has written to Chief Constable Simon Byrne pressing him to consider the same charges against Sinn Fein MLA Martina Anderson.

On August 25 she tweeted that the new Troubles pension is “mainly” for people who fought “Britain’s dirty war” and who are guilty of “collusion”. After a widespread backlash, the MLA deleted the tweet and apologised.

But Mr Allister said it caused “real anger and offence”. He told the Chief Constable that after “some noise on social media” the PSNI initiated an investigation against Pastor McConnell who was charged with improper use of a public electronic communications network and causing a grossly offensive message to be sent by means of a public electronic communications network.

He added: “What Ms Anderson said was grossly offensive to a section of our society which has suffered more than any of us. Accordingly, if an investigation has not already commenced I ask why and request that you commence one immediately.”

PSNI ACC Alan Todd responded that police referred the matter to the Public Prosecution Service. “They have assessed the evidence available to them and have concluded that the content of the tweet, whilst offensive, does not reach the threshold whereby any criminal offence has been committed.”

However Mr Allister was not impressed. “What a contrast with the robust response taken over Pastor McConnell’s comments,” he said.

Sinn Fein was invited to comment.

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