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Alasdair McDonnell: SDLP leader taped accusing DUP of sectarianism Alasdair McDonnell: SDLP leader stands by comments on DUP and Sinn Féin
(about 5 hours later)
The SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell has accused the DUP of not wanting to work with Catholics and said Sinn Féin "can't tell the truth" about the IRA. SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell has said he stands by comments in which he accused the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) of not wanting to work with Catholics and said Sinn Féin "can't tell the truth" about the IRA.
His comments were recorded by the North Belfast News as he opened a new office.His comments were recorded by the North Belfast News as he opened a new office.
He said DUP members "don't want a taig [derogatory term for Catholics] about the place" at Stormont. He was heard saying the DUP "don't want a taig (derogatory term for Catholics) about the place" at Stormont.
Dr McDonnell declined a BBC interview request, but in a statement he said the DUP's Arlene Foster had recently shown a "lack of respect" for nationalists. He later told the BBC that his remarks were "said clearly, intentionally".
He referred to her initial public remarks as she took over as acting first minister of Northern Ireland, when she described nationalist and republican ministers as "rogues" and "renegades" who could damage the unionist community. Dr McDonnell said his claims were made "against a backdrop of outrageous comments" from the DUP's Arlene Foster.
Mrs Foster took over the role from DUP leader Peter Robinson earlier this month, when he stepped aside during a political crisis at Stormont. In her first public remarks after taking over as acting first minister, Mrs Foster said she would protect Northern Ireland from "rogue" and "renegade" nationalist and republican ministers.
Mrs Foster took over the role from DUP leader Peter Robinson earlier this month, when he stepped aside as the political crisis at Stormont escalated.
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That crisis was sparked by a police assessment that Provisional IRA members were involved in a recent murder.That crisis was sparked by a police assessment that Provisional IRA members were involved in a recent murder.
Kevin McGuigan Sr was shot dead in east Belfast in August, and accusations of IRA involvement led to a breakdown in trust between Sinn Féin and unionist parties.Kevin McGuigan Sr was shot dead in east Belfast in August, and accusations of IRA involvement led to a breakdown in trust between Sinn Féin and unionist parties.
The SDLP leader was recorded blaming the DUP and Sinn Féin for the crisis as he opened his party's new office in Glengormley, County Antrim. The SDLP leader was recorded on Thursday evening blaming the DUP and Sinn Féin for the crisis as he opened his party's new office in Glengormley, County Antrim.
He said: "The DUP don't want partnership - they don't want a taig about the place. I'm sorry, it's as brutal as that."He said: "The DUP don't want partnership - they don't want a taig about the place. I'm sorry, it's as brutal as that."
"I'm not divisive, I don't like to be like that, but at times they've made it very clear to us they don't support the Good Friday Agreement, they don't support a lot of the changes that have taken place.""I'm not divisive, I don't like to be like that, but at times they've made it very clear to us they don't support the Good Friday Agreement, they don't support a lot of the changes that have taken place."
Dr McDonnell added: "Sinn Fein can't tell the truth. They just can't tell the truth, and they can tell us whatever they like.Dr McDonnell added: "Sinn Fein can't tell the truth. They just can't tell the truth, and they can tell us whatever they like.
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"And you've examples like Gerry Adams was never in the IRA and you've examples like Martin McGuinness saying this, that and the other thing. They're not telling the truth."And you've examples like Gerry Adams was never in the IRA and you've examples like Martin McGuinness saying this, that and the other thing. They're not telling the truth.
"We fully support the chief constable when he discussed publicly in a press conference the murder of Kevin McGuigan."We fully support the chief constable when he discussed publicly in a press conference the murder of Kevin McGuigan.
"We know who killed Kevin McGuigan. And we know there are people out there associated with, connected with or involved in some way - that basically were involved in helping and supporting the murder of Kevin McGuigan.""We know who killed Kevin McGuigan. And we know there are people out there associated with, connected with or involved in some way - that basically were involved in helping and supporting the murder of Kevin McGuigan."
In his later statement, the SDLP leader said: "When the acting first minister makes a point in her first televised interview upon appointment of describing nationalist ministers as 'rogues' and 'renegades', the lack of respect for nationalists is made very clear." In an interview with the BBC on Friday, Dr McDonnell said: "Most of the messages I'm getting are congratulatory messages telling me it was time somebody told the truth.
"And quite frankly I would make [the comments] all over again because they have to be said.
"We've reached a stage after a couple of weeks of talks that it's time to call it as it is, to be honest and tell the truth, and I called it as I saw it."
Responding to Dr McDonnell's accusations, Mrs Foster said she was "hugely disappointed" by his use of "pejorative language".Responding to Dr McDonnell's accusations, Mrs Foster said she was "hugely disappointed" by his use of "pejorative language".
She told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme: "Anyone that knows the way in which I operate, both at a constituency level and indeed at ministerial level, knows that this is utter rubbish."She told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme: "Anyone that knows the way in which I operate, both at a constituency level and indeed at ministerial level, knows that this is utter rubbish."
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Sinn Féin's Alex Maskey also criticised Dr McDonnell's remarks about his party and challenged him to produce evidence to support his allegations.Sinn Féin's Alex Maskey also criticised Dr McDonnell's remarks about his party and challenged him to produce evidence to support his allegations.
"Anything that I have heard Alasdair McDonnell coming out with in this past week has just reaffirmed in my mind that the man is a bumbling idiot," Mr Maskey said."Anything that I have heard Alasdair McDonnell coming out with in this past week has just reaffirmed in my mind that the man is a bumbling idiot," Mr Maskey said.
"I think it's regrettable that we have had the deaths of Jock Davidson and Kevin McGuigan exploited by other parties and that's now been jumped on by the SDLP for their own cheap political point-scoring exercises.""I think it's regrettable that we have had the deaths of Jock Davidson and Kevin McGuigan exploited by other parties and that's now been jumped on by the SDLP for their own cheap political point-scoring exercises."
He added the SDLP should bring any information they had about Mr McGuigan's murder to the police.He added the SDLP should bring any information they had about Mr McGuigan's murder to the police.
The SDLP's deputy leader Dolores Kelly said Dr McDonnell's remarks were "not a choice of words that I would use". The SDLP's deputy leader, Dolores Kelly, said Dr McDonnell's remarks were "not a choice of words that I would use".
She added that "things are said in the heat of the moment" and called on everyone at leadership level in all political parties in Northern Ireland need to "think about the power and emotion" of their words.She added that "things are said in the heat of the moment" and called on everyone at leadership level in all political parties in Northern Ireland need to "think about the power and emotion" of their words.