Ritchie expresses regret at Orange remarks
SDLP Minister Margaret Ritchie has admitted she made a mistake describing the loyal orders as "sectional and sectarian".
In correspondence, responding to a letter of objection to her comments by over 30 Unionist MLAs involved in the Orange Order, Ms Ritchie recognises if she was making the same point again, she would not use the same words.
Last month, the SDLP representative caused fury among Orange leaders when speaking at a GAA event, she described the Loyal Orders as "deeply divisive in our community".
Reflecting on her remarks, Ms Ritchie recognised unionist objections as "sincerely held".
"On reflection, the valid point I wanted to make at the Ulster GAA community conference was about the GAA being generally more open to engagement with others than the loyal orders have traditionally been (e.g. residents groups etc).
"However, I accept that is not how it came out," she added.
Ms Ritchie also signified her intention to meet senior representatives of the Loyal Orders in the days ahead, and was hopeful of a "constructive and purposeful dialogue".
While welcoming the admission by Ms Ritchie of her objectionable comments, one of the signatories of the letter, DUP MLA Edwin Poots expressed hope the SDLP woman would yet issue "a more unreserved apology".
"Margaret Ritchie's comments were extremely unfair and there was a genuine risk that they could have allowed some misguided people to believe that it is in some way alright to attack Orange Halls," he said.
"As far as the DUP is concerned, this cross-party Unionist co-operation in defence of our culture sends out a powerful message that we are not going to allow the Orange Institution to be used as some sort of a punch-bag by politicians looking to make headlines."
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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