Reaction to president declining centenary event ‘contrived and cynical’, says MP

The SDLP’s Claire Hanna said Michael D Higgins has “walked the walk” on reconciliation and north-south matters.

President Michael D Higgins has turned down an invite to a service marking the centenary of Northern Ireland (Maxwells/PA)

Some of the reaction to the president declining an invitation to an event marking the centenary of Northern Ireland has been “contrived and cynical”, an MP has said.

The SDLP’s Claire Hanna accused some unionist politicians of exploiting the public spat after Michael D Higgins turned down the invite to a service being attended by the Queen.