The DUP has hit out at comments made by Sinn Fein MEP Martina Anderson referring to IRA terrorists as "soldiers" in a "war".

Ms Anderson, posting on Twitter in a conversation with former soldier and UUP MLA Doug Beattie, said they were both soldiers in a war that is "thankfully over".

What I still canât get my head around is why any teacher would ever want to pictured with a convicted terrorist bomber. https://t.co/vwnSFYBzkF — Doug Beattie (@BeattieDoug) July 14, 2019

The convicted IRA bomber was defending former Sinn Fein councillor Patrice Hardy after she said on social media that she "couldn't get her head round" the fact Irishman Eoin Morgan wanted to captain the English cricket team.

Morgan recently captained England to victory at the Cricket World Cup.

Expand Close The tweet by Martina Anderson. / Facebook

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Whatsapp The tweet by Martina Anderson.

DUP MEP Diane Dodds called the comments "disgraceful" and an "affront" to innocent victims of terrorism and their familes. Sinn Fein has been approached for a response.

"Sinn Fein seek to commemorate and glorify on an almost daily basis while having the brass neck to barrack others in the name of equality and integrity," Mrs Dodds said.

"The stark truth is that there was no war in Northern Ireland, only a brutal and ruthless terrorist campaign met by the courage and sacrifice of our security forces.

"While soldiers and police officers adhered to high standards of practice and professionalism, acting lawfully in a vast majority of cases, those like Martina Anderson brought only wanton destruction and indiscriminate murder and violence to innocent men, women and children across our Province. "

Ms Dodds said the party would always call out those seeking to "justify and glorify terror" and "revise history".

"There will never be a comparison between the terrorist perpetrator and the innocent victims.," the MEP added.

Belfast Telegraph