THE SKY NEWS journalist who referred to Saoirse Ronan as “one of ours” has now said that that seeing her as British is “a compliment”.

During a report on Bafta nominations yesterday, reporter Richard Suchet made the all-too-frequent mistake of claiming an Irish actor as British.

While announcing the nominations for Leading Actress in a film, of whom Ronan is one, he said:

I think we can take Saoirse Ronan as one of ours.

Many people online pointed out the mistake to the reporter, but Suchet was adamant that he had not misspoken.

@SkyNews discussing Brits nominated for the @BAFTA awards. According to them they're very proud of lovely Brit Saoirse Ronan. SHE'S IRISH — Toryn Caitríona Glavin (@torynglavin) January 8, 2016 Source: Toryn Glavin /Twitter

Even Ireland’s national broadcaster got involved in defending Ronan’s nationality and Suchet couldn’t resist writing back.

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It didn’t end there though, with Suchet suggest that seeing an Irish person as British could even be seen as “a compliment”.

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Ronan was born in New York to Dublin parents, and was raised in both Carlow and Dublin after they returned to live in Ireland when she was a toddler.

The actress, previously nominated for an Oscar, is also up for a Golden Globe this weekend.