Bombardier 'sincere apologies' to Sinn Fein after thank you video omission

Bombardier has said its omission of Sinn Fein from a video thanking those that helped in its legal battle against Boeing was a "simple error" and it will add the party's name to the list

On Friday the US International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled that rival manufacturer Boeing did not suffer injury from Atlanta-based Delta Airlines' order of Bombardier's C Series passenger jets. Part of the plane, crucial to the firm's operations in Northern Ireland, are built in Belfast.

It meant a near 300% tariff for imports of the company's good into the US was lifted and the threat to 4,000 Northern Ireland jobs was lifted.

 

Responding, the company welcomed the ruling and sent out a thank you video naming those who had helped.

Four of the five main parties in Northern Ireland are mentioned in the video alongside the Prime Minister, Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Jeremy Corbyn, European Commission and many others.

However, absent is Sinn Fein from the short video. Bombardier said the party's name was included in a list of those to be thanked and its omission was a "simple mistake". It said the name will be added. A new video was posted on Saturday afternoon.

Speaking after the ruling on Friday night, Sinn Fein Northern Ireland leader Michelle O'Neill said: “I welcome the decision to overturn trade tariffs being imposed on the C-Series aircraft. It represents a welcome victory for Bombardier, the Belfast workforce and their representatives at Unite the Union.

“I have worked with the company and Union representatives over the past year to resist the economic threat posed to jobs at the Bombardier Belfast operation, and by extension to our local economy.

“I hope that the matter is now closed and that the company can secure the future of the C-Series, and by extension the workforce in their new partnership with Airbus.”