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Sinn Fein in call to DUP over 'highly dangerous' words DUP councillor Ruth Patterson apologises for parade comments
(35 minutes later)
Sinn Féin has called on the DUP to distance itself from comments allegedly made by a Belfast councillor about a republican parade in Castlederg. A DUP councillor has apologised for comments she made about a planned republican parade in County Tyrone.
They said comments attributed to Ruth Patterson were "irresponsible and highly dangerous". Ruth Patterson said she was guilty of "a lapse of judgement".
Mrs Patterson apparently made the remarks on Facebook. In a conversation on Facebook, she had responded to someone else's post about an imaginary attack on the parade in Castlederg in which several people including Sinn Féin figures are killed.
It was in reply to a post from someone else foreseeing an imaginary attack on the parade in which several people including Sinn Féin figures are killed. She had said: "We would have done a great service to Northern Ireland and the world."
A response under Ruth Patterson's profile asked: "... Who cares how we would be judged, we would have done a great service to Northern Ireland and the world." In her apology, Mrs Patterson said her comments were "completely incompatible with the polices of the Democratic Unionist Party and what is expected of me as an elected representative.
Asked by the BBC if she had written those words, Mrs Patterson said "That was on a private page. I can't comment on that at the moment." "I recognise that my careless comments fall short of the standards expected of anyone holding a responsible post. I deeply and sincerely apologise."
Sinn Féin MLA Barry McElduff, one of those named in the Facebook post, said the DUP should distance itself from the comments. A DUP spokesman said the party officers would "be looking at the issue but taking into account councillor Patterson's apology."
He said the words were "irresponsible and highly dangerous." So far, the DUP has not commented.
The Facebook page has been deleted.The Facebook page has been deleted.
The Castlederg parade, planned for 11 August, commemorates Tyrone's republican dead, including two IRA members killed by their own bomb in 1973. It is backed by Sinn Féin.The Castlederg parade, planned for 11 August, commemorates Tyrone's republican dead, including two IRA members killed by their own bomb in 1973. It is backed by Sinn Féin.
The party has offered to re-route the parade away from the town's war memorial and Methodist church.The party has offered to re-route the parade away from the town's war memorial and Methodist church.
However, unionists have described the parade as "grossly insensitive" and say it should not be allowed to go ahead.However, unionists have described the parade as "grossly insensitive" and say it should not be allowed to go ahead.
The Parades Commission is expected to rule on the parade later on Thursday.The Parades Commission is expected to rule on the parade later on Thursday.