Marks and Spencer food hall at Sprucefield retail park near Lisburn in Co Down removed Union Flag carrier bags after receiving complaints from Irish nationalist shoppers.

The store confirmed the bags were distributed by mistake and represented only a small number.

Rory McIlroy, from Co Down, won a second consecutive US Masters title at Augusta National golf club in Georgia.

McIlroy holds the title of BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

In 2012, McIlroy stated he felt more British than Irish.

He later described himself as a product of Irish golf and the Golfing Union of Ireland, as well as a proud Ulsterman from Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom.

McIlroy chose to represent Team Ireland at the 2020 Olympic Games after opting out of Rio 2016.

Northern Irish athletes qualify for the Olympic Irish team through southern Irish citizenship under Dublin's nationality laws.

The Olympic Irish team represents the Republic of Ireland.