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| Cllr Jimmy Carr faces racist claim in Scots accent row | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An SDLP councillor has sparked a row after saying he needs subtitles to understand a fellow Derry City councillor originally from Scotland. | An SDLP councillor has sparked a row after saying he needs subtitles to understand a fellow Derry City councillor originally from Scotland. |
| Cllr Jimmy Carr made the comments on Facebook following after a council debate over funding to the Bogside Artists for the restoration of murals. | Cllr Jimmy Carr made the comments on Facebook following after a council debate over funding to the Bogside Artists for the restoration of murals. |
| He said he could not understand Sinn Fein's Eric McGinley when he spoke. | He said he could not understand Sinn Fein's Eric McGinley when he spoke. |
| Sinn Fein have said the comments were racist and have called for Mr Carr's resignation. | Sinn Fein have said the comments were racist and have called for Mr Carr's resignation. |
| 'Subtitles needed' | 'Subtitles needed' |
| Earlier this week Sinn Fein voted in favour of awarding a grant of £45,000 to the Bogside Artists. | Earlier this week Sinn Fein voted in favour of awarding a grant of £45,000 to the Bogside Artists. |
| But the SDLP had wanted a grant of £200,000 awarded to the group. | But the SDLP had wanted a grant of £200,000 awarded to the group. |
| Mr Carr then posted a comment on the Bogside Artists Facebook page: "Jimmy Carr. The history of Derry according to Sinn Fein. And what makes it all the more sickening is the shinner who put forward the proposal to block is a Scotch man! Subtitles needed!" | Mr Carr then posted a comment on the Bogside Artists Facebook page: "Jimmy Carr. The history of Derry according to Sinn Fein. And what makes it all the more sickening is the shinner who put forward the proposal to block is a Scotch man! Subtitles needed!" |
| Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle, Mr Carr said: "I only stated a matter of fact. I've been called a racist for saying this when all I said was I didn't understand a man. | Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle, Mr Carr said: "I only stated a matter of fact. I've been called a racist for saying this when all I said was I didn't understand a man. |
| Mr Carr said some other members of his party could also not understand Mr McGinley but he was not prepared to name them. | Mr Carr said some other members of his party could also not understand Mr McGinley but he was not prepared to name them. |
| "It was said in a tongue-in-cheek sort of way, just like I would say if I didn't understand somebody from Ballmogarty or somebody from Galliagh. | "It was said in a tongue-in-cheek sort of way, just like I would say if I didn't understand somebody from Ballmogarty or somebody from Galliagh. |
| "I'm entitled to voice my opinion, it's freedom of speech," he said. | "I'm entitled to voice my opinion, it's freedom of speech," he said. |
| "I stand by everything that I said and I will say it again." | "I stand by everything that I said and I will say it again." |
| He said Sinn Fein have "got their knickers in a twist" and were using this to "distract from the real issue". | He said Sinn Fein have "got their knickers in a twist" and were using this to "distract from the real issue". |
| Mr Carr was asked by BBC Radio Foyle presenter Jenny Witt how he communicated with foreign-born constituents whose English may not be great. | Mr Carr was asked by BBC Radio Foyle presenter Jenny Witt how he communicated with foreign-born constituents whose English may not be great. |
| He replied: "I've helped people from right across the world when they come to me. I can explain to them that sometimes I don't understand them and ask them to slow down when they are speaking." | He replied: "I've helped people from right across the world when they come to me. I can explain to them that sometimes I don't understand them and ask them to slow down when they are speaking." |
| Speaking on behalf of Sinn Fein, Cllr Paul Fleming said the comments were "totally unacceptable". | Speaking on behalf of Sinn Fein, Cllr Paul Fleming said the comments were "totally unacceptable". |
| "What message does this send out to Scotland in a year when Derry is trying to promote itself as the UK City of Culture," he said. | "What message does this send out to Scotland in a year when Derry is trying to promote itself as the UK City of Culture," he said. |
| "I find the comments racist and would call for Jimmy Carr to resign." | "I find the comments racist and would call for Jimmy Carr to resign." |
| Mr McGinley has not yet commented on the issue. | Mr McGinley has not yet commented on the issue. |