Fiona Bruce was pressured to intervene when a Question Time audience member accused a Sinn Féin politician of “supporting” a terrorist organisation.
The audience erupted into applause when North Belfast MP John Finucane was accused of backing Hamas.
The man mentioned: “Fiona, it came as no surprise to me whatsoever there that John Finucane deliberately dodged your question. He clearly supports a terrorist organisation in Hamas.”
The members of the general public clapped following this comment.
The man then continued: “And the rest of his cronies in the Sinn Féin are in bed with another terrorist organisation, it being the IRA.”
Question Time host Ms Bruce instantly stepped in to let Mr Finucane reply the “very serious allegations” made towards him.
Mr Finucane had earlier within the programme refused to reply a query on whether or not he agreed that one among Israel’s “stated aims” was to destroy Hamas.
In response to the audience member, Mr Finucane mentioned: “It’s fully unfaithful and I feel what we’re seeing is a chance to take the sovereignty of hundreds and hundreds of individuals within the Middle East to make what I might describe as a reasonably low cost political level in what’s a really severe dialog.
“You’ve made an accusation towards me and that’s tremendous. You have your personal view and I’m not going to patronise you to vary it however I’m somebody who grew up throughout a battle.
“I’m somebody who had the battle inflicted upon me, and really partially, because of the homicide of my father.
“The very first time I voted in my life was for the Good Friday Agreement and I’m very grateful that I used to be given that chance by individuals on all sides who recognised the potential of dialogue, who recognised and created the circumstances for peace that finally led to the GFA that I used to be very proud to vote for.
“So I’ve benefited from peace. I’ve benefited from individuals who haven’t gone out of their solution to poke political opponents of their eye.”