Northern Irelands health minister has filed a lawsuit against musician Van Morrison , accusing him of defamation.

Health Minister Robin Swann claims Morrisons public comments harmed his reputation by implying he was unfit for his role and bungled the pandemic, Northern Irelands Sunday Life newspaper reported.

Proceedings have been issued and are ongoing against Van Morrison. We are aiming for a trial in February , Swanns lawyer Paul Tweed announced in a tweet.

Morrison was angry that his concerts were canceled because of COVID lockdowns that Swann ordered. In June, Morrison tried to get his fans at a Belfast hotel to chant: Robin Swann is very dangerous.

When he was later asked about it by Sunday Life, Morrison said he didnt regret it, adding: Of course hes dangerous.

Morrison then posted a video on YouTube explaining exactly why he thought Swann was dangerous. He claimed to have contacted Swann and demanded scientific evidence to justify banning live music during the pandemic.

Morrison wrote three songs last year No More Lockdown, Born to Be Free and As I Walked Out all of which bashed the government and protested the COVID lockdowns. As Morrison sings on No More Lockdown:

No more lockdown

No more government overreach

No more fascist bullies

Disturbing our peace

No more taking of our freedom

And our God-given rights

Pretending its for our safety

When its really to enslave.

Many fans took issue with the songs:

Swann slammed the songs in an op-ed that appeared in Rolling Stone, and said they would give conspiracy theorists great comfort. He called the theorists the tinfoil hat brigade who crusade against masks and vaccines .

Morrison could not immediately be reached for comment on the suit.