The decision to ease Covid-19 restrictions in Northern Ireland this Friday could result in record numbers of infections in the New Year, Professor Gabriel Scally has warned.
The president of the epidemiology and public health section of Britain's Royal Society of Medicine, who was born in Belfast, said he did not think the decision was wise.
Northern Ireland has much higher rates of infection and deaths than the Republic. Speaking to the BBC's Sunday Politics programme, Prof Scally said he believed "the aftermath of Christmas will not be good".
Stormont's chief medical and scientific advisors have warned that further restrictions will be required if there is, as anticipated, a spike in the number of cases after restrictions are eased