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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| TUV man retracts Gestapo remarks | TUV man retracts Gestapo remarks |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A TUV councillor has apologised for comparing police officers to the Gestapo. | A TUV councillor has apologised for comparing police officers to the Gestapo. |
| Cecil Calvert made the remarks about the Nazi secret police on Tuesday, during a Lisburn council debate about the evening closure of a PSNI station. | Cecil Calvert made the remarks about the Nazi secret police on Tuesday, during a Lisburn council debate about the evening closure of a PSNI station. |
| "I regret that in the heat of the moment I made a wholly inappropriate comparison between the conduct of the PSNI and that of the Gestapo," he said. | "I regret that in the heat of the moment I made a wholly inappropriate comparison between the conduct of the PSNI and that of the Gestapo," he said. |
| DUP councillor Paul Givan called on Mr Calvert to resign from the council. | DUP councillor Paul Givan called on Mr Calvert to resign from the council. |
| "To compare the PSNI with the Gestapo responsible for the murder of six million Jews is simply outrageous," he said. | |
| The council has formally disassociated itself from his comments. | The council has formally disassociated itself from his comments. |
| 'Jackboot boys' | 'Jackboot boys' |
| Mr Givan said the TUV councillor had also called the police "jackboot boys" several months ago, and his position was untenable. | Mr Givan said the TUV councillor had also called the police "jackboot boys" several months ago, and his position was untenable. |
| "At a time when the PSNI is under attack from dissident republicans with officers having been killed and seriously injured, it is vital that all political parties stand shoulder to shoulder with those men and women that are putting their lives on the line to protect our community and face down terrorism," he said. | "At a time when the PSNI is under attack from dissident republicans with officers having been killed and seriously injured, it is vital that all political parties stand shoulder to shoulder with those men and women that are putting their lives on the line to protect our community and face down terrorism," he said. |
| Ulster Unionist councillor Basil McCrea said although Mr Calvert's comments were "inappropriate and embarrassing", they were made during a "heated debate" . | Ulster Unionist councillor Basil McCrea said although Mr Calvert's comments were "inappropriate and embarrassing", they were made during a "heated debate" . |
| "We do have a tradition in this country of free speech, but there is an onus upon elected representatives to provide leadership," he said. | "We do have a tradition in this country of free speech, but there is an onus upon elected representatives to provide leadership," he said. |
| In retracting his remarks, Mr Calvert said he reserved the right to criticise the police. | In retracting his remarks, Mr Calvert said he reserved the right to criticise the police. |
| "Indeed, the debate in which the remarks were made was one proposed by another party of no confidence in the local commander," he said. | "Indeed, the debate in which the remarks were made was one proposed by another party of no confidence in the local commander," he said. |
| In a statement, the TUV, led by former DUP MEP Jim Allister, said: "Considering some of the extreme comments made in the past about the police by DUP leadership figures, we take no lectures from the DUP, but commend Alderman Calvert for acknowledging that his remarks were inappropriate." | In a statement, the TUV, led by former DUP MEP Jim Allister, said: "Considering some of the extreme comments made in the past about the police by DUP leadership figures, we take no lectures from the DUP, but commend Alderman Calvert for acknowledging that his remarks were inappropriate." |