Maginness lashes Wilson's 'sick' humour

A Democratic Unionist Assembly member was accused today of having a “sick sense of humour” as the row rumbled on over a controversial cinema advert against the euro.

Sammy Wilson came under fire from the SDLP’s Alban Maginness for supporting the advert and claiming he needed a “humour transplant”.

Mr Wilson sprung to the defence of the 90-second film which is being screened in Northern Ireland cinemas over the next fortnight and contains a controversial parody of Adolf Hitler.

Alban Maginness labelled the advert “tasteless” and “offensive,” demanding the scene featuring comedian Rik Mayall dressed as the Nazi dictator be cut.

The star-studded advert features the Young Ones star as Hitler addressing a crowd with the slogan: “Ein Volk! Ein Reich! Ein Euro!”

Mr Wilson claimed the parody “rightly pointed out” that the single currency, if adopted by the United Kingdom, would be “ruled by dictators from Brussels and Strasbourg”.

The East Belfast MLA argued: “If anyone ever had any doubt that Alban Maginness of the SDLP required a humour transplant, he has confirmed it by his outrageous reaction to the new cinema advert screened by the anti-euro campaign.

“The skit by well known comedians uses the powerful medium of humour to make an important political point about the loss of national identity and sovereignty.

“It is also a useful reminder that the first suggestion of a European currency came from Nazi Germany and was seen as a means of establishing German economic control over the countries the Germans conquered in Europe.”

Mr Maginness hit back by claiming there was nothing funny about Adolf Hitler.

“Sammy Wilson’s statement indicates that he has a sick sense of humour,” the North Belfast MLA replied.

“There is nothing in my view very amusing or humorous about the fact of the Holocaust which devastated the Jewish community in Europe or Nazi rule throughout Europe which imposed a fascist tyranny on oppressed people.

“The European Union was created to prevent that sort of fascist dictatorship ever repeating itself and it is sick in the extreme to associate in any way the EU or the euro with Hitler and the Nazis.

“The reality is that the euro has united Europeans into a more prosperous and dynamic economic context. The reality is that the euro has highlighted to Northern Irish holidaymakers the significantly lower cost of living on the European mainland.

“The benefits of the euro to Northern Ireland are so self-evident and so obvious that even the myopic DUP should realise that not to join the single currency is to deprive Northern Ireland of a prosperous future.”

Rik Mayall’s parody of Hitler also sparked controversy in England.