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16 April 2015

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DUP campaigner's partial apology after 'Taigs' and 'tramp' insults

● The offensive social media post about Sinn Féin Upper Bann candidate Catherine Seeley that the DUP campaigner and Royal British Legion chief has not apologised for

PROMINENT Upper Bann Democratic Unionist Party election worker Roberta McNally has finally apologised for a Facebook post in whIch she described Catholics as “Taigs” – but it doesn't seem she has said sorry for calling rival Sinn Féin candidate Deputy Mayor Catherine Seeley a “tramp”.

Roberta McNally, who is also Chair of the Lurgan branch of the Royal British Legion armed forces charity, had previously posted:

“Unionists attacking unionists on social media, Taigs must love it!!”

She has since deleted the post.

Several days later, the high-profile DUP supporter has eventually expressed regret for the sectarian Facebook post, saying:

“With reference to the media reporting on a comment I made on Facebook, I wish to place on record my sincere apologies. This was an off-the-cuff remark and certainly was not intended to offend anyone.

“I have many Catholic friends who I hold in high esteem and they know I would not offend them at any costs.”

She added:

“I feel this is a concerted effort to discredit me because of my association with [DUP MP] David Simpson and his election campaign.”

She said she will not be resigning her position as head of the Royal British Legion in Lurgan but the Legion has confirmed that it is looking into the matter as it is “non-political, non-sectarian” and all its members abide by a code of conduct.

◼︎ Sinn Féin MLA John O’Dowd, Catherine Seeley’s election agent, called for the “sectarian and derogatory” comments to be withdrawn. He told the Lurgan Mail that Sinn Féin had tried to engage with Roberta McNally last autumn before Remembrance events.

“These recent comments may now go some way to explaining why she was unwilling to engage,” John O’Dowd said.

Catherine Seeley was hounded out of her teaching post at the Belfast Boys’ Model Secondary School in the unionist Ballysillan area of north Belfast last year by a campaign of intimidation by the hardline Protestant Coalition.

Below: Sinn Féin Upper Bann candidate Catherine Seeley with John O'Dowd

Sinn Féin Upper Bann candidate Catherine Seeley with John O'Dowd

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