Liam Neeson 'not a racist' insists Schindler's List co-star Ralph Fiennes

Ralph Fiennes has defended Liam Neeson

By Gillian Halliday

Ralph Fiennes has come to the defence of Liam Neeson - insisting the actor from Ballymena is "certainly not a racist".

The English actor - who co-starred with Neeson in the Oscar winning triumph Schindler's List - offered his support to the Co Antrim actor.

Neeson recently sparked outrage across the globe after he admitted in an interview to promote his latest film, revenge thriller Cold Pursuit, that he harboured thoughts about killing a black man some time ago.

He confessed he walked around a neighbourhood with a cosh looking for a "black b******" to approach him so that he could kill them in revenge for the rape of a woman close to him, who described her attacker as a black man.

During the interview Neeson said he was deeply ashamed of his thoughts and actions, which he said had consumed him for a week.

In an RTE radio interview reported yesterday in the Irish Mail on Sunday, Fiennes sympathised with Neeson's plight, stressing that the Northern Ireland star is not a person who discriminates against others based on their ethnicity.

"Liam confessed to some very ugly and angry emotions, which he himself acknowledged were an appalling thing, but they were something he experienced many years ago. He made a confession in an interview," said the Harry Potter actor, who was in Dublin to promote his latest film The White Crow at the Dublin Film Festival.

"I know him to be one of the most loyal and honourable and good men there are, and certainly not a racist."

Mr Fiennes' public words of support come after it was confirmed that Neeson's honour from his hometown is not under threat.

The actor was handed the Freedom of Ballymena six years ago in recognition of his glittering Hollywood career.

And despite the outcry over his comments - which saw the New York premiere of Cold Pursuit axed and a chat show appearance cancelled - Mid and East Antrim Borough Council opted to stand by him.

In 2015, the authority absorbed Ballymena Borough Council, which awarded Neeson the accolade in 2013.

Earlier this month a council spokesperson said it had received "no requests for this to change".