Jimmy Carr in Scots accent row in Derry

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

'I’m entitled to voice my opinion. It’s freedom of speech.'

JIMMY CARR???!!! No, not the Jimmy Carr but Derry City SDLP Councillor Jimmy Carr, who blurted out on Facebook that he needs subtitles to understand a fellow Derry City councillor originally from Scotland.

The BBC reports that Derry City Council discussed a grant for the Bogside Artists for the restoration of murals. Sinn Féin voted in favour of giving them £45,000; the SDLP said it should have been £200,000.

Jimmy Carr (right) was not amused. He wrote on the Bogside Artists Facebook page:

“Jimmy Carr. The history of Derry according to Sinn Féin. And what makes it all the more sickening is the Shinner who put forward the proposal to block is a Scotch man! Subtitles needed!”

The SDLP man claims he cannot understand Sinn Féin’s Eric McGinley when he speaks.

When BBC Radio Foyle asked the voice of the SDLP about his choice of language, Carr replied:

“I only stated a matter of fact. I’ve been called a racist for saying this when all I said was I didn’t understand a man.

“It was said in a tongue-in-cheek sort of way, just like I would say if I didn’t understand somebody from Ballmogarty or somebody from Galliagh.

“I’m entitled to voice my opinion. It’s freedom of speech."

So what was the point of saying “a Scotch man”?

Councillor Carr is a member of the SDLP, affiliated to the Socialist International. He just sounds like someone from the BNP.