Ruane reported over Sands praise

Ms Ruane said Bobby Sands was a hero

Education Minister Caitríona Ruane has been reported to the police for telling children that IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands was "a local hero".

Ms Ruane was speaking at a prize-giving ceremony at St Colm's High School in Twinbrook last week.

The person who complained claimed Ms Ruane's remarks breached the law on glorifying terrorism.

Police said a complaint had been made but it had not been established that an offence had been committed.

Ms Ruane told the pupils that the hunger striker helped pave the way to a better future for them.

It's understood an official complaint was made at Antrim police station.

Sinn Féin said whoever made the complaint was wasting police resources.

But Ulster Unionist education spokesman Basil McCrea said Ms Ruane had been "insensitive".