DUP call for apology and discipline after SF Queen slur

Alderman Maurice Devenney also called on Sinn Féin to take internal disciplinary action against the councillor over a micro-blogging post that read: “The English Queen has diarrhoea and it ‘runs’ as the headline story on sky news. Various contributors interviewed talking s#i#e!”

He made the comments during the monthly meeting of Derry City Council yesterday (Tuesday, March 26).

Mr Devenney asked to make a statement as the Council was signing off the minutes of a Planning Committee meeting on March 5, which made reference to disparaging remarks made by SDLP councillor Jimmy Carr on a social networking site about a colleague.

Mr Carr had posted offensive comments about the nationality of Sinn Féin councillor Eric McGinley, who moved to Londonderry from Scotland a number of years ago.

The SDLP subsequently took internal disciplinary action against Mr Carr. Yesterday, Mr Devenney called on Sinn Féin to do the same. He said Mr O’Hagan’s comments were “disgusting and twisted.”

Mr Devenney told the meeting: “Councillor O’Hagan’s remarks were not only aimed at Her Majesty the Queen, but at all elderly people who have suffered with gastroenteritis. “Let’s be honest, we all have elderly parents, grandparents or relatives who have suffered from this illness and it is highly offensive to have made such remarks. How would Councillor O’Hagan feel if someone had made the same remarks about a relative of his?”

He said that Sinn Féin supposedly wanted to reach out the hand of friendship “after 40 years of murder and mayhem to the Unionist community.”

But he said that the remarks will certainly do more damage to community relations in Londonderry.

He continued: “I’m sure I don’t have to remind Councillor O’Hagan that his party are currently administering British rule in Stormont and throughout Northern Ireland whilst supporting the British rule of law through policing and justice. I’m sure the councillor is also aware that a senior member of his party, deputy first minister Martin McGuinness shook hands with Her Majesty.

“This of course was no easy task for HM Queen as she too suffered at the hands of the IRA through the loss of her cousin Lord Mountbatten who was blown to pieces in Mullaghmore, Sligo in the Irish Republic.”

Mr Devenney also said it was untenable for Sinn Féin to one week lambast Mr Carr for offensive social media comments and the next defend their man for carrying out the same offence.

“Just a few weeks ago, Sinn Féin was calling for the resignation of SDLP councillor Jimmy Carr following remarks he made against a Sinn Féin councillor on a social networking site. They cannot have it both ways, we don’t all support the Crown, but offensive comments are either right or wrong, irrespective of who makes them,” he said.

He called on Mr O’Hagan to withdraw the comment and apologise. Mayor Kevin Campbell who chaired the meeting merely remarked ‘point taken’ before moving on with business.