Maskey to place tri-colour in city hall office

The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Sinn Fein’s Alex Maskey, has infuriated unionists by announcing he's to place an Irish tri-colour in his office at city hall later today.

Mr Maskey says he is not going to remove the union flag from its place in the same office, but this has not convinced unionists.

Maskey says he wants to represent all the citizens of Belfast and, out of respect for unionists, will not be removing the union flag from his office.

Accordingly, both the Irish and British flags will fly side by side in his official quarters.

Former Lord Mayor Jim Rodgers of the Ulster Unionist Party said it was a sad day for the city.

The flag of the country was the union flag, he said, and no other should be flown.