Northern Ireland's former Health Minister, Jim Wells, has said he is trying to clear his name over comments he was alleged to have made linking child abuse and same-sex relationships.

Mr Wells resigned from his role in May following the incident. It is thought the comments had been named at a hustings event in Co Down the previous month, ahead of the UK General Election and they had been caught on tape.

In the original video Mr Wells is heard to say: "All the evidence throughout the world says the best way to raise children is in a loving, stable, married relationship.

"The facts show that... The facts show that certainly you don't bring a child up in a homosexual relationship. A child is far more likely to be abused and neglected..."

A number of people in the crowd started to shout at the minister before he added: "A child is far more likely to be abused and neglected in a non-stable marriage."

Shortly after the video came to light, Mr Wells apologised for his comments and said his comments were an "error", and that he had twice clarified his comments during the hustings event. Many complained to the police regarding his remarks.

Now, however, speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, he has said he is trying to clear his name as the recording did not reflect what he actually said.

He is quoted by the publication as saying: "The full transcript shows that I did say I was opposed to gay marriage, which I am, but I then go on to make the argument that when marriages break up – in either a heterosexual or homosexual relationship, the children can be used in a very nasty and vicious way.

"I have seen this myself repeatedly, in heterosexual marriages, where the children become bargaining chips, and are used in a nasty way."

He added: "Police have analysed the tape and confirmed to me that it was contrived. For me it was a 'lightbulb' moment. I had always doubted that I could say something that I don't actually believe."

"I would not be into technology so it never occurred to me that this could be doctored," he continued. "To me it was like 'the camera never lies'. It was on tape, so I must have said it. But I did not believe it myself and that is why I had no qualms about apologising."

It is understood the PSNI are still examining the comments "to establish if they constitute a criminal offence."

(JP/MH)