Photograph of Sammy Wilson holding an ice-cream in the Rinkha with no face-covering triggers tense social media mask-debate

Mr. Wilson visited the Rinkha in Islandmagee where he tucked into a cone filled with whipped ice-cream, covered in chocolate hundreds and thousands and a flake.

However, before taking a lick, Mr. Wilson had his picture taken with the aforementioned ice-cream cone and shared it on Twitter with the message: “Support local business. You can’t eat when you’re muzzled!”

The word “muzzled” is in reference to face-coverings that everyone in Northern Ireland is being encouraged to wear.

Face-coverings are not currently mandatory in Northern Ireland but earlier in the week Health Minister, Robin Swann, said he had the option to enforce the wearing of face-coverings if he deemed necessary.

Mr. Wilson’s point of view concerning face-coverings is not shared by some of his counterparts in the Ulster Unionist Party and the Alliance Party.

“Sammy should grow up and realise it`s not always about him,” said UUP Chief Whip, Robbie Butler MLA.

“If there`s another lockdown, he won’t be able eat out if the shops and restaurants are shut.

“Even Donald Trump is now encouraging people to wear face coverings,” added Mr. Butler.

Mr. Butler went on to accuse Mr. Wilson of being “grossly irresponsible”.

“Sammy Wilson`s latest comments are an insult to those people coming off shielding today.

“He displays an incredible amount of ignorance.

“Nobody is being asked to wear a face covering while they are eating and his petulant performance is grossly irresponsible.

“It is ironic that Sammy Wilson once again seems to be advocating a policy which puts us at odds with other parts of the United Kingdom. I hope the vast majority of the public will ignore him,” he added.

Mr. Wilson Tweeted the picture of himself with the ice-cream cone shortly after 11:00am on Friday

However, at just past 12:20pm, Alliance Party Councillor Danny Donnelly dropped in on the Rinkha for an ice-cream but unlike Mr. Wilson he was wearing a mask.

“Like Sammy Wilson I was also in Islandmagee today and had a lovely ice cream from @TheRinkha,” tweeted Colr. Donnelly

“I respected the staff and other customers enough to wear a mask.

“Then I went outside, took the mask off and ate the ice cream - simple really ! #WearAMask,” added Colr Donnelly.

Health Minister Robin Swann will decide over the next few weeks if he will make face-coverings mandatory or not from August 20, 2020 onward.