Lyons dismisses resignation calls over Larne attack Facebook post

A Stormont minister accused of "inflaming tensions" over recent trouble In Northern Ireland has said he has no intention of resigning.

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) said he has been the victim of a "political pile on" following his social media post about the location of migrant families who fled their homes.

People caught up in clashes in Ballymena were temporarily moved to Larne Leisure Centre on Wednesday. It was later targeted and set on fire.

Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill had earlier urged Lyons to resign while he also faced criticism from a number of other politicians.

Those politicians, Lyons told the BBC, "don't have a veto, they don't have the right to determine whether or not I have a position at the executive".

"That is not in their gift," he said.

Lyons said O'Neill had been "absolutely wrong".

"She is obviously under pressure from the SDLP and other parties, not surprised that she has jumped on this passing bandwagon and joined the political pile on."

Lyons has been criticised for a Facebook post in which he said he had been made aware that "a number of individuals were temporarily moved to Larne Leisure Centre".

The minister said he had posted on social media to provide clarity and to counter "all sorts of rumours circulating around".

Addressing the media on Thursday, O'Neill said Lyons had "failed to show the correct leadership".

"I think that his commentary falls very short and very much strays into the territory of inflaming the situation, so I think that he should consider his position," she said.

Earlier, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said Lyons should reflect on his comments, while the Green Party called for Lyons to resign.

However, DUP leader Gavin Robinson told BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme Lyons has been "fundamentally misrepresented".

Writing on X later on Thursday Robinson said the first minster is "is in no position to call for any minister to consider their position".

"Gordon Lyons will not be resigning and he, and we, will not be distracted by the game playing," he said.

Lyons again defended his comments saying the information was in the public domain, and had been confirmed by the local council.

He said there were those now trying to "create a political fuss out of this."

The attack on Larne Leisure Centre came during a third night of violence in Northern Ireland.

Fireworks, bottles and bricks have been thrown at police during the disorder.

The worst of the rioting was in Ballymena, but unrest also spread to other towns, including Larne, about 20 miles (30km) away, on Wednesday evening.

The fire service said that fire damage to the centre had been "contained mainly to the front reception but there was extensive smoke damage".

In a statement on Wednesday night, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council said the families placed at the centre had all been "safely relocated" and were no longer using the centre.

However, Lyons has been criticised for an earlier Facebook post in which he said he had been made aware that "a number of individuals were temporarily moved to Larne Leisure Centre".

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said the post would not "helps matters at all", adding "we all have a responsibility to act in a sensible way in these circumstances".

"He might want to reflect on what he said."

Justice Minister Naomi Long also criticised the communities minister, adding: "It may have been in the public domain, but by naming it, he actually elevated it and that is the responsibility that comes with being a public figure and a minister.

"To say he wasn't consulted, to me, is just an extraordinary statement."

The SDLP's Matthew O'Toole said he would refer Lyons to the standards commissioner over his comments, saying "lives are at stake".

The Committee for Communities passed a vote of no confidence in the minister on Thursday morning.

It was tabled by Sinn Féin MLA Maolíosa McHugh who said he proposed it as the minister had implied "that he or his party needs to be consulted before one considers the use of a council facility to accommodate people in total distress".

Green Party councillor Áine Groogan accused the minister of choosing to "stir division and deflect from his own failures".

Earlier Lyons told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme his post was a clarification to explain that while the centre had been used temporarily, that was no longer the case: "My message was posted because rumours had been circulating that the leisure centre was being turned into a permanent centre."

He added he was attempting to "defuse that situation" and said he had appealed for calm in his statement.

Lyons also condemned those behind what he called the "shameful" attack on the leisure centre.

DUP leader Robinson said there is "no reason" for Lyons to resign and that he has his "full confidence".

He rejected any insinuation that Lyons identified the leisure centre being used as a place where vulnerable people were being given refuge.

"This is how it has been misconstrued, or manipulated to make some cheap, political point," said Robinson.

"Larne Leisure Centre was used as a refuge for people moved from Ballymena yesterday morning and that was known locally.

"Gordon [Lyons] has been accused of revealing the location, but he did not."