Sinn Fein MEP Martina Anderson wore footballer James McClean's Ireland jersey at the European Parliament during today's Brexit debat in Straatsburg. Ms Anderson said she was wearing the shirt 'with pride' during a Brexit discussion in which she argued Irish in Northern Ireland are entitled to EU citizenship.
The jersey was worn by McClean in the Republic of Ireland's European Qualifying victory over Gibraltar on June 20.
During a debate on the UK's withdrawal from the EU in Brussels this morning, the Sinn Fein MEP said Irish passports say everyone born on the island of Ireland is entitled to Irish citizenship and therefore entitled to EU citizenship.
She told Parliament that the right to self determination should be respected and added there is a "democratic pathway" back into the EU for the people of Northern Ireland.
Holding her Irish passport in the air and addressing First Vice-President of the European Parliament Mairead McGuinness, the Derry native said: "My Irish passport says that it is the entitlement and birthright of everyone born on the island of Ireland to be part of the Irish nation.
"As this resolution clearly states we Irish in the North of Ireland are therefore entitled to EU citizenship where we reside.
"Whilst the backstop is essential to prevent a hardening of the border partitioning Ireland, to protect the All-Ireland economy and North South co-operation it takes us out of the EU against our will, we in the North of Ireland voted to remain."
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