Hollywood actor says that everyone will have to be ‘appeased’ for this to take place

Hollywood all-action star Liam Neeson believes Irish reunification could happen in his lifetime.

The Ballymena-born 70-year-old, who holds Irish, British and American citizenship, grew up as a Catholic in a predominantly Protestant town, before finding fame and fortune as a thespian. He has since gone on to feature in more than 100 films such as Star Wars, the Taken trilogy and Schindler’s List.

He was asked by Sky News’ Beth Rigby during a recent interview whether he thought there was any chance the Emerald Isle could be reunited in his lifetime and he was rather confident in his response.

I think it will happen,” Neeson said when asked the question. “I think it will and I think Britain will be pleased.

“They won’t have to put £50 billion into the Northern Ireland exchequer every year. I think that’s what it costs now.

“I think it could happen, but everybody has to be appeased. The Protestants in the north of Ireland have a strong voice.

“I hear them and I know where they’re coming from and they have to be respected, if there’s going to be a united Ireland. Their voice has to be heard and they have to be represented… if a united Ireland comes about.”

Neeson was also asked his thoughts about the shooting of Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell, who suffered life-changing injuries in the attack. DCI Caldwell was shot a number of times in front of his young son as he loaded footballs into the boot of his car at a sports venue in Omagh, Co Tyrone, on February 22.

When put to him if he thought the peace process was becoming ruptured following the attempted murder of the police officer, Neeson responded: “No. No, I did think there’s a few cowboys over there who still want to believe in the old IRA or what have you.

“The peace process is here to stay, it is. Everybody wants it, certainly in the north of Ireland. But you always get that, you always get a few cowboys.”