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01/08/2013
DUP Councillor Apologises For 'Massacre' Comments
DUP Councillor Ruth Patterson has apologised following comments she made that appeared to sanction an imaginary attack on a republican parade planned for Castlederg.
Unionists and nationalists have again clashed over the issue of parades in recent weeks, in the run up to a republican parade in memory of Seamus Harvey and Gerard McGlynn - two IRA men who were killed 40 years ago when a bomb they were carrying accidentally exploded.
Unionists feel the parade is insensitive, considering the 28 civillians who were killed by the IRA in the area.
The DUP met with the Parades Commission this week calling for the march to be banned.
But now Ruth Patterson has caused outrage by comments she made on a Facebook page in response to a post that had imagined an attack on the proposed parade and the killing of Sinn Féin politicians.
She is reported to have responded: "who cares how we would be judged, we would have done a great service to Northern Ireland and the world getting rid of these evil, devious, scum like individuals."
Sinn Féin's Barry McElduff said: "This is a shocking comment from an elected representative who is endorsing the slaughter of people attending the parade by machine-guns, rocket-launchers and grenades.
"This type of talk is totally irresponsible and highly dangerous. Is Ruth Patterson advocating a Michael Stone style attack on a peaceful parade? It certainly appears so and we need to hear from the DUP as to whether they support this opinion.
"Ruth Patterson has, by these comments and recent utterances, shown that she has no interest in building a peaceful future but is more interested in stirring hatred, division and whipping up hysteria."
Alliance Councillor Mervyn Jones has called for the DUP to make a statement on the matter.
"This is completely unacceptable language for an elected representative to use," he said.
"I am shocked that somebody would make such dangerous and irresponsible comments. Whether the comment was made in a private message or not, what she has said is an absolute disgrace that cannot be defended. I wonder what exactly she was thinking when she posted this message on Facebook.
He called for the PSNI to look into the matter.
"The DUP must make a statement on these comments," he continued.
"Do they support her views? If not, what are their intentions to discipline her? They must back her or sack her."
Ms Patterson has since apologised, while the DUP issued a statement saying: "Ruth's comment was completely unacceptable and not in keeping with the party's policies or the standard of behaviour required of our members.
"Whilst the officers of the party will clearly be looking at this issue, they will take account of her subsequent statement."
(IT/JP)
Unionists and nationalists have again clashed over the issue of parades in recent weeks, in the run up to a republican parade in memory of Seamus Harvey and Gerard McGlynn - two IRA men who were killed 40 years ago when a bomb they were carrying accidentally exploded.
Unionists feel the parade is insensitive, considering the 28 civillians who were killed by the IRA in the area.
The DUP met with the Parades Commission this week calling for the march to be banned.
But now Ruth Patterson has caused outrage by comments she made on a Facebook page in response to a post that had imagined an attack on the proposed parade and the killing of Sinn Féin politicians.
She is reported to have responded: "who cares how we would be judged, we would have done a great service to Northern Ireland and the world getting rid of these evil, devious, scum like individuals."
Sinn Féin's Barry McElduff said: "This is a shocking comment from an elected representative who is endorsing the slaughter of people attending the parade by machine-guns, rocket-launchers and grenades.
"This type of talk is totally irresponsible and highly dangerous. Is Ruth Patterson advocating a Michael Stone style attack on a peaceful parade? It certainly appears so and we need to hear from the DUP as to whether they support this opinion.
"Ruth Patterson has, by these comments and recent utterances, shown that she has no interest in building a peaceful future but is more interested in stirring hatred, division and whipping up hysteria."
Alliance Councillor Mervyn Jones has called for the DUP to make a statement on the matter.
"This is completely unacceptable language for an elected representative to use," he said.
"I am shocked that somebody would make such dangerous and irresponsible comments. Whether the comment was made in a private message or not, what she has said is an absolute disgrace that cannot be defended. I wonder what exactly she was thinking when she posted this message on Facebook.
He called for the PSNI to look into the matter.
"The DUP must make a statement on these comments," he continued.
"Do they support her views? If not, what are their intentions to discipline her? They must back her or sack her."
Ms Patterson has since apologised, while the DUP issued a statement saying: "Ruth's comment was completely unacceptable and not in keeping with the party's policies or the standard of behaviour required of our members.
"Whilst the officers of the party will clearly be looking at this issue, they will take account of her subsequent statement."
(IT/JP)
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