NORTHERN Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill has said Stormont communities minister Gordon Lyons should resign over a social media post sent hours before an attack on Larne Leisure Centre.

Mr Lyons has faced criticism over a post about the location of migrant families who fled their homes.

Mr Lyons has resisted calls for his resignation and said he would “strongly hit back at any notion” that he had publicly revealed the facility was being used to house immigrant families affected by violence in Ballymena.

Masked youths attacked the leisure centre on Wednesday night and set it on fire.

Prior to the fire, Mr Lyons posted on social media that the building had been used to accommodate several people following riotous behaviour in Ballymena, which is 30 minutes away.

Police said that ethnic minorities have been targeted in the violence, which they have described as “racist thuggery.”

Mr Lyons’s post said: “As a local MLA [Member of Legislative Assembly] for the area, neither I nor my DUP council colleagues were made aware or consulted on this decision until late this afternoon.”

He added: “It has now been confirmed to us by the [police] and council that all these individuals are in the care of the Housing Executive and have been moved out of Larne.

“Protesting is of course a legitimate right but violence is not and I would encourage everyone to remain peaceful.”

Ms O’Neill said: “He has failed to show correct leadership and I think that his commentary falls very short and very much strays into the territory of inflaming the situation, so I think that he should consider his position.”

Asked if she was stating he should resign, she said: “Yes, I believe he should consider his position.”

Alliance Party MLA Danny Donnelly said Mr Lyons ”should seriously consider his position.

“Highlighting the location of where immigrant families who had been burnt out were taken to a place of safety on social media was reckless and dangerous, and it certainly was a factor in that protest.

“The result we have had, the town has been attacked by a racist mob.”

Mr Lyons was asked by the BBC Good Morning Ulster programme if he should still be in his job, and he replied: “Absolutely.”

“Let me set out the facts because it is clear that some don’t know them" he said. “The leisure centre was used to temporarily house those who had been affected by the violence in Ballymena.

“This had been confirmed yesterday publicly. It was in the public domain, it was on a news website and it had been confirmed by the council.”

Mr Lyons said he believed it was right that public representatives should be consulted when emergency protocols are put in place.

“I believe that information is key here so that rumours don’t circulate around," he said. “I will very strongly hit back at any notion that I have revealed the use of this facility to the public when the protest was already planned, when everybody knew what was happening.”