Man charged over controversial window display of rocket launcher snowman in Northern Ireland

The display came with the message 'Wishing you an Explosive Christmas'

The image accompanied the message "Wishing You an Explosive Christmas". (Facebook/Junior McDaid House)

A 29 year-old man has been charged after a snowman holding a rocket launcher was painted on the window of a building in Northern Ireland.

The image of the festive firearm, which appeared in Derry City, included the message: "Wishing you an Explosive Christmas”.

The display appeared in October on the window of the republican party Saoradh headquarters on Chamberlain Street.

The man was charged with “two counts of permitting image of anything provocative” and is due to appear at the magistrates' court in Derry on 3 January according to a statement from the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Unionist politician Gregory Campbell criticised the image for being insensitive at the time. “Terrorism has already caused enough heartache in Northern Ireland without these people compounding the hurt,” he told the Irish Post.

It comes as the issue of the Northern Ireland border was at the centre of UK politics this week, after Theresa May was forced to make last-minute changes to a divorce deal with the EU when it was vetoed by the Democratic Unionists.

The DUP were adamant that they did not want to be treated differently from the rest of the UK, and a redrawn deal effectively kicked the issue down the line to be discussed during future trade talks.

Ms May set out her commitment to Northern Ireland in the joint EU-UK document, saying "no new regulatory barriers" will be allowed between Northern Ireland and the UK.