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Amazon apologises after implying Northern Ireland is not part of UK

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AMAZON HAS issued an apology after appearing to imply Northern Ireland is not part of the United Kingdom.

The controversy was sparked by a tweet posted via the online shopping giant’s customer service Twitter account in response to a complaint from Chris Jones, a rugby fan who lives in Northern Ireland, who found he was unable to watch the Autumn Nations Cup games being hosted by Amazon Prime.

Responding to a tweet from Jones complaining about the issue, Amazon’s customer service department explained that the games were only available to watch in the UK, seemingly implying that Northern Ireland is a separate country.

Amazon tweeted: "Thank you for that information. We apologize but upon reviewing your location you're in Northern Ireland. Rugby Autumn Nations Cup coverage is exclusively available to Prime members based in the UK. We don't have the rights to other territories. ^RS"

The e-commerce giant later realised their mistake and issued an apology.

Amazon tweeted: "We apologise for the error in our colleague’s response.

"Our Prime Video subscribers in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK can access and watch the Rugby Autumn Nations Cup on Prime Video as part of their subscription."

However, it was already too late by then with Irish Twitter users quick to poke fun at the blunder.

Irish comedian and Mock the Week host Dara O'Briain led the way, tweeting: "Amazon Prime have delivered a United Ireland, and before 6pm on the same day."

"Amazon, one of the biggest company’s in the world, believes in a united Ireland. What a time,” another tweeted.

A third, meanwhile, joked: "I ordered 32 counties for next day delivery and I it is coming up on 100 years of partition. Can I get a refund? "

Others got even more creative: