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| Ruth Patterson arrested over Facebook comments | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| It is understood police have arrested the DUP councillor Ruth Patterson over comments she made about a planned republican parade in County Tyrone. | It is understood police have arrested the DUP councillor Ruth Patterson over comments she made about a planned republican parade in County Tyrone. |
| 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. | 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. |
| She had said: "We would have done a great service to Northern Ireland and the world." | She had said: "We would have done a great service to Northern Ireland and the world." |
| She later apologised for the comments. | |
| On Friday, the police said its public order inquiry team had arrested a 57-year-old female in relation to offences concerning the sending of grossly offensive communications and other serious criminal offences in relation to intimidation and encouraging criminal acts. | On Friday, the police said its public order inquiry team had arrested a 57-year-old female in relation to offences concerning the sending of grossly offensive communications and other serious criminal offences in relation to intimidation and encouraging criminal acts. |
| 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". | |
| A DUP spokesman said the party officers would "be looking at the issue but taking into account councillor Patterson's apology". | A DUP spokesman said the party officers would "be looking at the issue but taking into account councillor Patterson's apology". |
| Mrs Patterson is a former deputy lord mayor of Belfast. | |
| The Castlederg parade, planned for 11 August, commemorates Tyrone's republican dead, including two IRA members killed by their own bomb in 1973. The march 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. The march is backed by Sinn Féin. |
| 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. |
| On Thursday evening, the Parades Commission ruled the Castlederg parade could take place, but it placed restrictions on the march, re-routing it away from a war memorial in the Diamond area of the town. | On Thursday evening, the Parades Commission ruled the Castlederg parade could take place, but it placed restrictions on the march, re-routing it away from a war memorial in the Diamond area of the town. |