This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-30186975
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Gerry Adams: Unionists condemn use of swear word | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Unionists have strongly criticised the Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams after he used offensive language at a public meeting in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, on Monday night. | Unionists have strongly criticised the Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams after he used offensive language at a public meeting in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, on Monday night. |
Both the DUP and the Ulster Unionists have made it clear they believe Mr Adams was insulting all unionists. | Both the DUP and the Ulster Unionists have made it clear they believe Mr Adams was insulting all unionists. |
The Sinn Fein president has maintained that he was talking only about bigots and racists. | The Sinn Fein president has maintained that he was talking only about bigots and racists. |
Mr Adams used the phrase "the point is to break these b******s". | Mr Adams used the phrase "the point is to break these b******s". |
Audio of the comments containing the swear word was tweeted by Impartial Reporter journalist Rodney Edwards. | Audio of the comments containing the swear word was tweeted by Impartial Reporter journalist Rodney Edwards. |
Mr Adams was apparently answering a question about Sinn Féin's relationship with the DUP in the light of Gregory Campbell's disparaging comments about the Irish language. | Mr Adams was apparently answering a question about Sinn Féin's relationship with the DUP in the light of Gregory Campbell's disparaging comments about the Irish language. |
Mr Adams said he was often asked by republicans "what's the point?" | Mr Adams said he was often asked by republicans "what's the point?" |
"They weren't blaming Sinn Fein - in fact they were making the point that Sinn Fein were doing their best," he said. | "They weren't blaming Sinn Fein - in fact they were making the point that Sinn Fein were doing their best," he said. |
"But what's the point? The point is to actually break these b******s - that's the point. And what's going to break them is equality. That's what's going to break them - equality. | "But what's the point? The point is to actually break these b******s - that's the point. And what's going to break them is equality. That's what's going to break them - equality. |
"Who could be afraid of equality? Who could be afraid of treating somebody the way you want to be treated. | "Who could be afraid of equality? Who could be afraid of treating somebody the way you want to be treated. |
"That's what we need to keep the focus on - that's the Trojan horse of the entire republican strategy is to rejoin the people on the basis of equality." | "That's what we need to keep the focus on - that's the Trojan horse of the entire republican strategy is to rejoin the people on the basis of equality." |
'Foul-mouthed abuse' | 'Foul-mouthed abuse' |
The DUP's Arlene Foster said Gerry Adams' "foul mouthed abuse had been disrespectful to an entire community". | The DUP's Arlene Foster said Gerry Adams' "foul mouthed abuse had been disrespectful to an entire community". |
"Respect is a two-way street. The hyperbole from republicans over recent days has been exposed as hypocrisy," she said. | "Respect is a two-way street. The hyperbole from republicans over recent days has been exposed as hypocrisy," she said. |
"Republicans use the Irish language as a weapon and tonight Gerry Adams confirms that they view equality as another weapon to attack unionists, or these b******s as he would term us." | "Republicans use the Irish language as a weapon and tonight Gerry Adams confirms that they view equality as another weapon to attack unionists, or these b******s as he would term us." |
Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt described it as "shocking to the point of nausea". | Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt described it as "shocking to the point of nausea". |
"The most shocking revelation is that he considers equality as a 'Trojan horse'," he said. | "The most shocking revelation is that he considers equality as a 'Trojan horse'," he said. |
"The audio recording makes clear Gerry Adams thinks equality is nothing more than a tool to be used to manipulate people like me." | "The audio recording makes clear Gerry Adams thinks equality is nothing more than a tool to be used to manipulate people like me." |
On Twitter, Gerry Adams said "Mea Culpa" acknowledging he was at fault, but insisted he had been talking about "bigots, racists and homophobes". | On Twitter, Gerry Adams said "Mea Culpa" acknowledging he was at fault, but insisted he had been talking about "bigots, racists and homophobes". |