Queen Elizabeth banner removed

An Irish judge ordered a pub owner to take down a sign banning the British royal family from his premises.

Publican John Stokes had hung a 60-foot sign outside of the Players Lounge in Fairview, Dublin which featured a picture of Queen Elizabeth with a red line through it.

Text on the banner read: "She and her family are all officially barred from this pub.

"As long as the British occupy one inch of this island they will never be welcome in Ireland."

Judge Paul Kelly said while Stokes has every right to protest within the law, he had "no doubt" the sign would require him to get approved planning permission from the local council to be displayed.

Stokes was told the objection would be withdrawn if he removed the sign by 5pm that day, which he complied with, saying if his late licence was revoked the livelihood of his staff would be at stake.

He has, however, vowed to continue his protest after a visit by the queen to the country in May.

He said: "I'll just have to find another way that's acceptable to An Garda Siochana [Ireland's police service]. This is nothing against English people. We've a lot of English people in the pub, we show English football, and we're quite happy to do that.

"But I do feel it's not the right time for the queen to visit this country and I feel I have a democratic right to express that view. She still occupies part of our country and as long as she does I will always object to her presence in this country."