Shoppers in one of the largest supermarkets in Ballymena, Co. Antrim were stunned when the words “F*** the Pope” were announced over the tannoy.
It is understood that a member of the public, a male youth, gained access to an unattended speaker at a Tesco store and shouted out the sectarian slur.
According to a report in the Belfast Telegraph, the police are treating it as a “hate crime”.
Offence
One shopper, who didn’t wish to be named, said he couldn’t believe what he was hearing over the tannoy.
“All of a sudden the words ‘F**k The Pope’ were shouted through the tannoy system and echoed throughout the store,” the man said.
“I was shocked and offended that this happened. It is not the sort of thing you expect to hear when you are on your way down an aisle.”
The incident occurred on Wednesday, 14 October and a Tesco spokesperson said they were aware of the incident and apologised “to any customers who were in the store when it happened”.
