One of Northern Ireland's biggest football clubs has cancelled a sponsorship deal with a convicted sex offender after a backlash from fans.
Linfield Football Club, which plays in the Irish League, issued a statement this morning.
The club said it had "terminated all sponsorship agreements" with Mooney's Master Butchers based on Belfast's Shankill Road.
Just days ago, the club shared a picture of owner Stephen Mooney holding a Linfield shirt and announcing a partnership arrangement for the 2025/26 season, including the promotion of its youth academy.
In 2018, Stephen Mooney was convicted of sexually assaulting a woman at a hotel.
The Belfast Telegraph reported that he had been fined £750 and ordered to pay his victim £1,000 in compensation.
The announcement of the sponsorship deal sparked an angry reaction from fans.
In its statement, the club apologised and said it would ensure that checks would be carried out in future.
"The club will be putting measures in place to ensure that all future sponsorship arrangements will be subject to internal vetting procedures.
"In addition the club will be making a donation to a victims' related charity and wishes to apologise for any distress caused by this decision," Linfield FC said.
