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| Ruth Patterson released from custody after Facebook comments | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| DUP councillor Ruth Patterson has been released from custody after her arrest over online comments she made about a 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 later apologised. | |
| The DUP has criticised her arrest. | |
| 'Sensationalist' | |
| Mrs Patterson was arrested on Friday morning and was released from a police station in south Belfast at about 22:25 BST. | |
| A crowd of about 30 supporters had gathered outside Musgrave police station while she was being questioned, holding signs calling for her release. | |
| The DUP had described her arrest as "sensationalist" and said they would raised the issue with the chief constable. | |
| 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. | 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. | "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." | "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." |
| 'Grossly offensive' | |
| In response, police said that when a report is made to them "regarding information posted on social media sites, officers will investigate and where a criminal offence has occurred, appropriate action will be taken". | In response, police said that when a report is made to them "regarding information posted on social media sites, officers will investigate and where a criminal offence has occurred, appropriate action will be taken". |
| Earlier 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". | Earlier 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". |
| Mrs Patterson is a former deputy lord mayor of Belfast. | Mrs Patterson is a former deputy lord mayor of Belfast. |
| 'Restrictions' | |
| 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. |