Sammy Wilson branded `sick' for backing anti-Euro ad

Democratic Unionist Assembly member, Mr Sammy Wilson, was accused today of having a "sick sense of humour" as the row rumbled…

Democratic Unionist Assembly member, Mr Sammy Wilson, was accused today of having a "sick sense of humour" as the row rumbled on over a controversial cinema advert against the Euro.

Mr Wilson came under fire from the SDLP's Mr Alban Maginness for supporting the advert but the DUP MLA responded by saying Mr Maginness needed a "humour transplant".

the next fortnight and contains a controversial parody of Adolf Hitler.

Mr Maginness labelled the 90-second film which is being screened in Northern Ireland cinemas over the next fortnight as "tasteless" and "offensive," demanding the scene featuring comedian Rik Mayall dressed as Hitler be cut.

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The star-studded advert features the nazi fuhrer 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".

"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," Mr Wilson said.

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.

PA