It was confirmed last night the Iraqi Special Olympics team will not be travelling to the contest in Ireland.
The announcement came before Larne Borough Council was due to debate whether signs should remain on display welcoming disabled Iraqi children to the town for the Special Olympics in June.
Six children had been due to stay in Larne for four days before travelling to Dublin for the games on June 21st.
Some of the signs describing Larne as "Host town to Iraq" were taken down by the local council after one was vandalised with "Ulster Says No" sprayed in black paint.
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The wife of a local British soldier serving in southern Iraq had complained about the wording of the sign. She questioned the appropriateness of erecting it during the war.