Footage has emerged of Van Morrison and DUP MP Ian Paisley Jr chanting 'Robin Swann is dangerous' to a crowd of guests at the Europa Hotel.
It comes after four of Van Morrison's gigs, which were scheduled to take place on Thursday night and throughout the weekend at the Europa Hotel, were cancelled due to Covid regulations.
The Managing Director of Hastings Hotels had released a statement yesterday about the cancellations, claiming that the Department for Communities had given mixed messages about the events.
The gigs were then cancelled at the last minute, with the Europa Hotel saying that they were continuing with the dinner portion of the events, but would instead be showing Van Morrison's 70th birthday Cyprus Avenue concerts, rather than offering a live performance.
Now, video footage has emerged of Van Morrison taking to a podium at the event last night.
Speaking to the crowd, Van said: "Robin Swann said in his interview with Rolling Stone magazine, 'I was dangerous.' Well, OK. If I can't affect any change in this situation, right, I don't have any power, or my power is very limited to change this situation.
"Robin Swann has got all the power. He's keeping us in this, for over 15 months. All I have to say is, if I don't have any power - and my power is like extremely limited, if at all - Robin Swann's got all the power. So I say, Robin Swann is very dangerous."
The singer then begins to chant 'Robin Swann is very dangerous', while banging the podium.
He then turns to Ian Paisley Jr, who was in the crowd, and says: "Come on Junior, you want to do it with me?' He is then joined on stage by the North Antrim MP, who joins him in chanting 'Robin Swann is very dangerous."
Ian Paisley Jr then jokes, "Anyway...'Brown Eyed Girl'", but is shrugged off by the singer, who finishes saying, "No, no, this stops when we say 'No'."
The footage has emerged after Ian Paisley said on The Nolan Show this morning that Stormont 'couldn't run a bath', after Van Morrison's gigs were cancelled.
Mr Paisley said last night to a BBC journalist: "That crowd at Stormont, who told Howard Hastings this was a 'yes', couldn't run a bath".
"Little bit of wonder there's disarray tonight."
UTV journalist Sara O'Kane reports that Robin Swann said he has seen the footage from last night's event, and that he is 'disappointed'. He said he believes last night's comments by the singer appear to be both a 'political & personal attack' but says it won't distract him from doing his job.
The latest development comes following repeated efforts by Van Morrison to resist the ban on live music.
The east Belfast musician has been critical of Covid restrictions, and it was announced in January that he was mounting a legal challenge against the ban.
The 75-year-old musician also caused controversy last year when he penned three songs denouncing lockdowns (with a recent album also containing many songs which follow in the same vein).
Van has accused the Government of taking people’s freedom and alleged scientists were making up “crooked facts” to justify restrictions to “enslave” the population.
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