Alliance North Down General Election candidate Stephen Farry has hit out at those behind leaflets linking the party with the IRA.

Dr Farry said the leaflets, which have appeared in a number of locations in Bangor, was the latest stage in a ‘fake news’ campaign against both Alliance and other parties’ candidates in the election campaign.

“We are not long into the General Election campaign and yet leaflets, banners, social media posts and other fake news seem to be the dominant narrative so far,” said Dr Farry.

“Alliance has condemned each of them and we do the same with this. I call on the other candidates running in North Down to also unequivocally condemn these posters. Not only are these posters disingenuous but they are also dangerous, placing myself and other Alliance candidates, as well as our canvassers and supporters, at risk.

“This fake news and gutter politics is wrong and it needs to stop immediately, right across Northern Ireland. We need to get away from this sort of politics and talk about the issues which affect the people in this election.”