The Irish Football Association has confirmed loyalist protester Jamie Bryson will not be selected as a mascot for the Northern Ireland team after it was revealed he had performed the role at the last home match.

It was revealed earlier this week that Mr Bryson, who has been a leading voice for loyalists engaged in the union flag protests across Northern Ireland, had dressed up as 'Footie', the team’s mascot, for the game at Windsor Park against Azerbaijan on November 14.

The game was played in the month before Belfast councillors took the decision to restrict the flying of the union flag at Belfast City Hall.

The decision sparked protests from unionists who said it was an attack on their cultural identity.

While many of the protests since then have been peaceful, some have resulted in rioting, in which over a hundred arrests have been made and police officers injured by loyalists throwing bottles, stones, golf balls, missiles and petrol bombs.

Mr Bryson is an official, albeit unelected spokesperson for the Ulster People’s Forum, which has been set up with the aim of dealing with the union flag issue while creating "a peace that is equitable and just for all."

It has been revealed he was asked at the last minute to dress up as the mascot for the IFA.

The mascot is regularly involved in local, cross-community campaigns to discourage sectarianism in young football fans.

At the match, Mr Bryson led the teams out and also entertained fans at half-time.

He said: "It was one of the proudest moments of my life to stand in front of my countrymen waving Union flags and Northern Ireland flags as they sang God Save the Queen."

But the last-minute decision meant Mr Bryson had not been properly vetted.

He has a criminal conviction for possessing an offensive weapon.

He was convicted last year and given a suspended four-month prison sentence.

Mr Bryson claims he was carrying the weapon to protect himself from drug dealers.

(IT/GK)