THERE should be an immediate ban on Muslims coming here, says the leader of the new National Party.

He added that those already living in Ireland should be deported if they fail a vetting test.

In his first interview in ten years, Justin Barrett likened the burka to a “balaclava”, said gay marriage was a “sham” and “not natural” and claimed abortion was the same as “murder”.

The 45-year-old is formerly of pro-life group Youth Defence and the ‘No to Nice’ Campaign.

In 2002, it was revealed he attended rallies of parties with neo-Nazi and fascist links.

Mr Barrett told us: “I attended meetings of many groups around the world — pro-life groups and political parties of all kinds. Unfortunately in this case it appears at least that they were on the extreme end of the scale.

“They will tell you what other people said in German, and Italian, but they don’t tell you what I said when I addressed meetings. I didn’t say anything I would not have said at home.”

The launch of the right-wing National Party was due to take place yesterday in the Merrion Hotel but the establishment cancelled the event after a flurry of tweets.

Mr Barrett claimed there was an “enormous” amount of enquiries in recent days from people looking to join the party and they have members all over Ireland.

Warning of another Khalid Kelly — who blew himself up in Iraq — he told us: “I would take the same view as President-elect Trump which is we need a complete ban on Muslims entering Ireland, until we get a complete handle on what the hell is going on with Muslim Islamic fundamentalist extremism.

“People who want to come here and change the country should not be welcome. If they want Sharia law why don’t they go to a country with Sharia law.

“There has to be a significant vetting of individuals in the country already. Any that hold radical, fundamentalist ideas should be deported before we are dealing with a Nice or a Paris situation.”

On the Muslim head-dress, he told us: “If you are talking about the full Burka where they are fully masked . . . that should be prohibited. Imagine if I entered a hotel in Ireland wearing a balaclava!”

The National Party also wants Ireland to give up the Euro and end free movement of people — while on social issues, Mr Barrett said: “Abortion is murder, it is the intentional killing of the unborn child in the womb.”

On marriage equality, he added: “It is a sham. It is not possible for two men to marry. It is simply not natural.”