A Belfast hotel where a newlywed couple were filmed singing “F**k the Pope and the IRA” has defended staff for not ‘pulling the plug’ on the sectarian chants.
The Belfast Loughshore Hotel in Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, said they were “not prepared to pull the plug” on the song and “risk it becoming something much worse”.
A video taken on Friday at the hotel showed a bride and groom enter their wedding reception singing the lyrics to the tune of Tina Turner’s ‘Simply the best’ as guests - including children - cheered on.
Stephen Carson, Group Operations Director at the Belfast Loughsore Hotel, said: “The events that took place had absolutely nothing to do with the owners, management or staff of the Belfast Loughshore Hotel.
“To the many people commenting ‘why didn’t the Hotel Manager step in and put a stop to it?’, my answer is simple.
“I, as the leader of the company, would never ask or expect anyone who works with me to do something that I would not do myself and I can assure you all that I would not be prepared to ‘pull the plug’ and risk what was a 90 second episode where no-one was hurt becoming something much worse.
“So, the Hotel Manager who carried on and did his job has the full support of our Hospitality Family.”
Carson added that his hotel employs staff from all backgrounds and they practice the religion of “customer service”.
He said: “Our company employs over 300 people from all backgrounds and we as a Hospitality Family practice the religion of customer service.
“We treat our guests as we would like to be treated ourselves, with respect, care and love.”
The video has been circulating online over the weekend and has been watched over 1.4 million times causing outrage from viewers.
One Twitter user commented: “Biggest day of their lives and this lot sing about 'f**k the Pope and the IRA'.
“They are doing this in front of kids too.”
Another added: “Imagine spending months - maybe years - planning your wedding. Tens of thousands of pounds spent on the big day, the happiest day of your life.
“Everybody sits down to toast the happy couple and the bride pipes up with a bold ‘F**k the Pope and the IRA’. This made me itchy.”
Not everyone was upset with the video, however, with some users on social media saying people are “overreacting”.
One Twitter user said: “A lassie sung ‘f**k the Pope and the IRA’ at her own private wedding function.
“Who the f**k cares? Is it really a massive issue? The daft a**e that filmed it and made it public has stuck them in it.
“Cannae see why everyone is shocked at this. Massive overreaction.”
The sectarian song performed at the wedding is commonly used by Glasgow Rangers football fans in Scotland and Unionists in Northern Ireland.
