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Irish president defends his right not to attend service marking centenary of Irish partition

DEMOCRATIC Unionist Party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson urged Irish President Michael D Higgins to reverse his decision to snub a church invitation to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland’s creation.

He accused Mr Higgins of playing politics by staying away from the inter-denominational service organised by church leaders.

Earlier this week, a spokesperson for the president said that he was “not in a position to attend the ceremony and this has been communicated to the organisers.”

Sir Jeffrey claimed that the church service, marking the 1921 partition of Ireland, is a commemoration and therefore a neutral event, adding that he hoped Mr Higgins would reconsider.

But the president said today that he would not attend because the service had become politicised.

“I am not snubbing anyone and I am not part of anyone’s boycott or any other events in Northern Ireland,” he said.

“I wish their service well, but they understand that I have the right to exercise discretion as to what I think is appropriate.”

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