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Ruth Patterson arrested over Facebook comments Ruth Patterson arrested over Facebook comments
(about 1 hour later)
It is understood police have arrested DUP councillor Ruth Patterson over comments she made about a planned republican parade in County Tyrone. Police have arrested DUP councillor Ruth Patterson over comments she made about a republican parade in 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
She later apologised for the comments. The DUP has described her arrest as "sensationalist".
In a statement, the party said: "Councillor Ruth Patterson has apologised for her remarks, accepted they were well below the standard expected of a public representative and not in keeping with the DUP's values and ethos.
"The party officers also emphasised the unacceptable nature of these stupid and obnoxious comments and will conclude its own internal investigations.
"We fail to understand why the police chose to conduct a sensationalist arrest rather than contact Ruth and ask her to attend an Article 10 voluntary interview. This is a matter we will be raising with the chief constable."
On Friday, the police said the 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 the 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".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".
Mrs Patterson is a former deputy lord mayor of Belfast.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.