Bethan Jenkins a Plaid Cymru Assembly Member is taking a break from Twitter due to a torrent of abuse was directed to her by British unionists after describing Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness as “naive” for agreeing to meet the Queen.

Labour Party users of the social network site pounced on the comment, which Bethan Jenkins has since been forced to have it removed.

North of Ireland’s Deputy First Minister Mr McGuinness will meet the British Queen when she comes the occupied six counties this Tuesday .

Appalled at being accused of “trying to destabilise” the peace process, she is giving up Twitter for the time being.  Tweeting today [Monday] she commented “I’m leaving Twitter for the time being as I’ve found it has become less a forum for candid, personal communication with constituents and more a weapon in the hands of political opponents ”

Labour drew attention to the tweets last Friday which the Republican South Wales West AM Miss Jenkins placed on twitter

RESPONDING TO CRITICS

Responding to her critics, as the daughter of a mother from Ireland who had lived through the Troubles, she said she was appalled at the suggestion of trying to destabilise the North of Ireland’s peace process..

In a statement she added: “I’m leaving Twitter for the time being as I’ve found it has become less a forum for candid, personal communication with constituents and more a weapon in the hands of political opponents with nothing to offer the electorate.

“It’s sad, but I will no longer be distracted from my work as an AM to deal with these matters, nor allow them to detract from the good work Plaid Cymru is doing on behalf of communities in Wales.”

Miss Jenkins shares the republican views of her party leader Leanne Wood, who recently turned down an invitation to attend a service with the Queen at Llandaff Cathedral to mark the Diamond Jubilee.

During the Plaid leadership campaign Ms Wood said she would be present when the Queen opens the Welsh assembly.