Revealed: Poppy seller, 63, berated by Northern Irish shopper for selling ‘badges for murderers’ in Tesco is a former lance corporal given an MBE in the Queen’s last Birthday Honours and has been ‘inundated’ with flowers and chocolates since video emerged

• Grandmother Roberta McNally confronted by woman in Lurgan, County Armagh

A poppy seller has described her outrage at being accused of selling ‘badges for murderers’ as she raised funds for injured veterans in her local Tesco store in Northern Ireland.

Former soldier Roberta McNally told how she forced herself to keep her cool when she was confronted by an angry Catholic woman in the town of Lurgan, County Armagh, on Tuesday morning.

Roberta, 63, who was awarded an MBE in Queen Elizabeth II last birthday’s honour’s list, sat motionless as the woman yelled that it was ‘not acceptable’ for Catholics for her to sell Remembrance poppies.

However today the grandmother, who served for 16 years in the British Army, told how she had been ‘inundated’ with flowers and chocolates – from catholic and protestant well-wishes, after a film of the confrontation was posted on social media.

Roberta told MailOnline: ‘When that woman was accusing members of the police and the army of being murderers I knew I had to keep my cool for the sake of the veterans.

Roberta McNally told how she had been ‘inundated’ with flowers and chocolates – from catholic and protestant well-wishes, after she was confronted by an angry Catholic woman in the town of Lurgan, County Armagh

Roberta, 63, who was awarded an MBE in Queen Elizabeth II last birthday’s honour’s list, sat motionless as the woman yelled that it was ‘not acceptable’ for Catholics for her to sell Remembrance poppies

Former soldier Roberta, who served for 16 years in the British Army, told how she forced herself to keep her cool

Roberta says she is proud to have served her country, rising to the rank of lance corporal, when she served in the Royal Irish Regiment

A picture of her receiving her MBE from Queen Elizabeth II holds pride of place in the living room of her tidy bungalow. A memorial flag flies outside her home

READ MORE: Poppy seller veteran, 78, tells how he was punched by pro-Palestine protesters as he fundraised at Scottish station that was besieged by demonstrators

‘We are raising money to help men and women who have been injured in combat, defending this country. That is what is important not what the woman says.’

Roberta says she is proud to have served her country, rising to the rank of lance corporal, when she served in the Royal Irish Regiment.

She said: ‘I joined up as soon as I could aged 18.

‘I have lost friends, murdered by the IRA. One comrade in particular is Johnny Lyness. I was the last person to speak to him before he was shot and killed by the IRA in 1993.

‘Now I want to do everything I can to help veterans.

‘So when that woman was shouting and screaming at me those were the people I was thinking about, the veterans, not her.

‘So I decided to stay quiet and keep my dignity and reserve the dignity of the thousands of men and women who serve their country.

‘I know that woman. She lives near here.

Poppy seller Roberta with the MBE given to her by the Queen – sitting in front of pictures on her wall of her meeting the late monarch

Roberta has won praise since she was confronted in the supermarket – and says she had to keep her cool for the sake of the veterans 

The grandmother told how she lost friends, murdered by the IRA when she was in the British army

The lady in question has denied that she is the woman who confronted Roberta over selling Remembrance Day poppies, in a post on Facebook

‘What she said made me very angry. I lost four comrade when I was in the army and others after I left. But this is not about her. ‘

The lady in question has denied that she is the woman who confronted Roberta over selling Remembrance Day poppies, in a post on Facebook.

She wrote: ‘I did Not I repeaet did not make the Tesco video.’

Roberta is proud of her work raising funds for the Royal British Legion.

A picture of her receiving her MBE from Queen Elizabeth II holds pride of place in the living room of her tidy bungalow. A memorial flag flies outside her home.

She added: ‘Ever since she put that film up on social media I’ve been inundated phones calls and gifts from people wishing me well, catholics and protestants.

‘I’ve received bunches of flowers and boxes of chocolates from across Northern Ireland and from people I don’t know!

‘It’s been overwhelming.’

Source: Read Full Article