Little-Pengelly defends Wimbledon trip as chance to represent NI

Emma Little-Pengelly, the deputy First Minister, has defended her decision to decline an invitation to Wimbledon, saying she will continue to promote and champion Northern Ireland. When Richard Pengelly, the tennis tournament's chief executive, attended, almost £1,000 was spent on flights and accommodation. Any Stormont party has chastised her for her spending, with Alliance's deputy leader claiming she should pay the money back. On Thursday, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) defended its party leader, but Little-Pengelly did not respond directly until a post on social media site X late Friday night.

She wrote in the that she said that being invited to attend events of national importance in her capacity.

I consider it a tremendous honor to have been invited as DfM to attend the Royal Box at Wimbledon at the invitation of the club's chair,

she said.

The organisers have invited a mixture of political, government, investors, industry, and of course royalty as part of the royal Box's official function.

It is highly hoped that Northern Ireland has been invited to attend this significant UK national sporting festival, which has a worldwide reach.

I will always be the greatest champion of this magical place of Northern Ireland. I will continue to promote us at any opportunity, and it is the greatest privilege of my life to ensure our voice is understood.

While

some will condemn and some will attempt and assault,

she said, it will not stop my optimism and championing of Northern Ireland.

Eoin Tennysontystold the Irish Newsthat Little-Pengelly should repay the £980 in public funds that went to the trip earlier this Friday. He characterized it as a jolly to Wimbledon on the taxpayer's dime.It's easy to see why the DUP is unable to explain or defend why the public should be paying the over £1,000.

The only right thing to do at this point is for the deputy first minister to pay the bill back.

His remarks mirror those of other groups earlier this week, including the Social Democratic and Labour Party's (SDLP's) Matthew O'Toole who said the investment beggars faith and Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) assembly member Timothy Gaston who asked about the "justification for the public paying the bill.

What's the background to the Wimbledon trip row?

The deputy first minister and her husband Mr Pengelly were photographed at the Royal Box in centre court with celebrities including American pop star Olivia Rodrigo, professional wrestler John Cena, and former England football manager Roy Hodgson. The Irish Newsrevealed that more than £980 was spent on the trip as a Freedom of Information request. The DUP said on Thursday that the invitation was issued

in her capacity as deputy first minister and that it would be registered in the normal way

in the face of the criticism. Both deputy first minister and First Minister Michelle O'Neill were invited to Wimbledon, but O'Connor declined to accept the invitation. According to O'Neill, who appeared in the All-Ireland Football semi-final between Tyrone and Kerry later in July, but there were no fees associated with the trip. The Executive Office of the deputy first minister's trip to Wimbledon announced that the details of minister gifts and hospitality have been recorded on the 'Register of Ministers' Gifts and Hospitality Received' website. The deputy first minister flew economy and that, although she was accompanied by her husband, there was no additional expense incurred by the TEO on his behalf, according to TEO. The travel and accommodation costs were also

in accordance with NICS (Northern Ireland Civil Service) police,

the department reported. No money was invested by it, according to the Education Authority, and the trip was made in a personal capacity while Mr Pengelly was on annual leave.