MP defends challenging Irish president's remarks

Gregory Campbell has defended challenging Irish President Catherine Connolly's remarks during her first official visit to Londonderry on Thursday.

The Democratic Unionist Party MP criticised Connolly for not using the term "Londonderry" during what he called a "one-sided" speech to an invited audience in the Guildhall.

The East Londonderry MP told the president "you're in our country, tonight I'm going to your country" - a reference to his participation at a debate in Dublin on Thursday night.

Campbell dismissed criticism that the interaction with Connolly was "embarrassing".

He told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme on Friday that the exchange had been "polite, courteous and forthright at the same time".

"It would have been remiss of me not to mention the contrast, and there was a contrast, between her day previously in Belfast," he said.

"I wasn't there but most of the reports and from people I spoke to, it was reasonably balanced, and then yesterday in the Guildhall, on the west bank of the Foyle, there really wasn't an attempt to take a balanced approach at all."

But Social Democratic and Labour Party councillor Catherine McDaid said the president's speech had been "very gracious" and described Campbell's intervention as "a bit embarrassing".

"I do think she was reaching across and trying to speak to everybody and then when Gregory took offence at it being called 'Derry' I genuinely couldn't believe it," she said.

"If somebody calls it Londonderry, that's what they call it. I call it Derry and I wouldn't be calling people out on it, essentially, especially not a head of state."

Campbell said he received an apology from the Irish president after his comments.

During her address in Derry, Connolly spoke about Bloody Sunday and said justice for the victims was "still awaited" and also praised the city's role in the peace process and highlighted reconciliation efforts in the city.

President Connolly also held a private meeting with some of the Bloody Sunday families later on Thursday afternoon.

On Friday, Connolly has been meeting young people in Derry on the final day of her three-day visit to Northern Ireland.

A range of groups, including young Muslims who had experienced hate crime, met the presidet at St Columb's Park House, a peace and reconciliation centre in the Waterside.

About 40 youths and community workers from diverse backgrounds have been giving the president an insight into cross-community and cross-border projects they are involved in.

Speaking on Friday morning, Dominic Bonner, from Youth Action NI, said the various programmes are focused on breaking down barriers and building respect and understanding of others.

"We have invited community leaders who have successfully designed and developed programmes, meeting the needs of young people and listening to their views and ideas," he said.

"The president will be able to hear about all that positive work and she's keen to engage with everyone."

Bonner said young people have a strong voice to help make a difference in their community but cannot do it on their own and need leaders to listen and take action.

"Young people are our present and future leaders," he said.

The delegates included young people and leaders from Donegal youth service and Reach Across, a teenage cross-community project in Derry.

"We have young people from the Northwest Islamic Centre who experience hate crime and isolation as well as young people from St. Columb's Park House who deliver peace projects and interface programmes," Bonner said.