Ditch violence for 'constitutional politics' - Foster

The First Minister has called for an end to threatening behaviour linked to Irish Sea Brexit checks.

It comes after the Chief Constable warned people need to step back from the brink of violence. Simon Byrne said the atmosphere in Norther Ireland is becoming 'ferible'.

Arlene Foster, speaking to the press on the Hill of O'Neill in Dungannon, stressed that frustrations must be channelled through constitutional means.

Inspections on animal-based produce arriving from Great Britain had to be abandoned because of sinister graffiti and threats to staff carrying out the checks.

“I do think it's incredibly important that people do stay calm and that they focus their energies on constitutional politics and take things forward in that fashion,'' the First Minister said.

Arlene Foster continued: “Constitutional politics is the way forward. I know people are very frustrated, but they need to channel that frustration through constitutional politics so that we can effect change in that fashion”

Stormont Finance Minister Conor Murphy responded to a media question about language used by some politicians, which has been perceived as inflammatory. He said: “ think it is very clear that we do need to dial down the rhetoric and we've heard some comments which I think are dangerous from people who should know better on radio programmes yesterday.”