Scandal-hit pastor visits victims of race attacks

An evangelical preacher who triggered controversy in the North when he claimed he did not trust Muslims has visited the home of two Pakistani victims of race hate attacks.

Pastor James McConnell has found himself at the centre of a political storm after branding Islam as “satanic and heathen” during a fiery sermon last month.

Stormont First Minister Peter Robinson’s subsequent remarks in defence of the preacher led to him apologising to Muslim representatives in private last week.