Northern Ireland health ministers sues Sir Van Morrison
Northern Ireland health minister sues Sir Van Morrison after singer branded him ‘very dangerous’ on stage because of his handling of Covid restrictions
Robin Swann has launched legal action against the singer Sir Van Morrison Minister’s lawyer said defamation proceedings were ‘at an advanced stage’ Singer criticised minister at a high- profile incident at the Europa Hotel in Belfast
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Northern Ireland‘s Health Minister has launched legal action against Sir Van Morrison after the singer called him ‘very dangerous’ over his handling of Covid-19 restrictions.
Robin Swann’s libel lawyer Paul Tweed said defamation proceedings were ‘at an advanced stage’, with a hearing date set for early 2022, after the singer criticised the minister at a high-profile incident at the Europa Hotel in Belfast this summer.
The proceedings also cite two subsequent incidents when the singer elaborated on his views on Mr Swann.
In the first, when he was challenged by a Sunday Life reporter about his initial comments, Sir Van was reported to have described the minister as a ‘fraud’.
In the first, when he was challenged by a Sunday Life reporter about his initial comments, Sir Van was reported to have amplified his criticism of the minister.
Northern Ireland’s Health Minister Robin Swann has launched legal proceedings against Sir Van Morrison
The second relates to content the songwriter uploaded on YouTube in which he addressed the Europa Hotel controversy.
In that video, he again criticises the minister and calls him ‘dangerous’.
The development was first reported by the Sunday Life on Sunday.
It is understood Mr Swann’s legal team sent a writ to the singer in June and followed that up with a detailed statement of claim in September.
It is understood Sir Van’s lawyers responded to the claim last month.
The Europa Hotel incident in June unfolded when a concert Sir Van was supposed to perform at was cancelled at late notice due to Covid-19 restrictions.
At one point while criticising Mr Swann on stage, Sir Van called up DUP MP Ian Paisley from the audience to join him. Mr Paisley joined in with the singer in chanting that the Stormont minister was ‘very dangerous’.
Mr Swann said Mr Paisley subsequently apologised for the incident. It is understood the Health Minister is not taking legal action against the North Antrim MP.
The musician criticised the minister at a high-profile incident at the Europa Hotel in Belfast this summer
Sir Van called up DUP MP Ian Paisley from the audience to join him in chanting that the Stormont minister was ‘very dangerous’
The Belfast-born singer has been an ardent critic of coronavirus restrictions, particularly those that prevented live music performances.
He recorded a number of anti-lockdown songs last year that he said were aimed at the UK Government.
The lyrics included claims that scientists were ‘making up crooked facts’ to justify restrictions that ‘enslave’ the population.
Mr Swann subsequently responded to those songs in a piece written for Rolling Stone Magazine.
In that op-ed, the Health Minister described the singer’s claims as ‘bizarre and irresponsible’.
He said some of what he was claiming was ‘actually dangerous’ and would provide ‘great comfort to the conspiracy theorists’.
