TUV man says sorry for PSNI 'Gestapo' jibe
A TUV councillor has apologised for comparing the PSNI to Nazis, amid calls for him to resign.
Lisburn Alderman Cecil Calvert made the comments during a heated monthly meeting of the local District Policing PartnershipADVERTISEMENT on Tuesday night.
During a discussion about the DPP's vote of no confidence in the District Commander over the decision to close Lisburn police station for routine visitors at night, TUV Alderman Calvert described the actions of some officers as "Gestapo-like".
After the remarks were reported by local newspaper the Ulster Star yesterday, Mr Calvert issued a public apology.
However, speaking after the meeting he insisted that he was referring to specific incidents in Stoneyford surrounding parades and that he was not given a chance to properly explain his position at the council meeting.
Despite the DUP Mayor, Alan Ewart, asking Alderman Calvert to withdraw his comments, the TUV man insisted that he was standing over them.
DUP councillor Paul Givan then proposed that the council disassociate itself from Mr Calvert's comments – this was seconded by the UUP's Basil McCrea and carried unanimously.
Councillor Givan said: "Alderman Calvert has brought shame on himself and has tarnished the name of Lisburn City Council, his position is untenable and he should resign.
"To compare the PSNI with the Gestapo that was responsible for the murder of six million Jews in Nazi Germany is simply outrageous and Alderman Calvert should resign his council position immediately and the TUV should expel him from their party.
"This latest attack on the PSNI follows previous comments made by Alderman Calvert when he said that PSNI officers conducted themselves as 'Jack Boot Boys'."
Councillor Basil McCrea, who is a member of the Policing Board, did not support the call for Mr Calvert to resign, but said he should immediately retract his comments.
"It was the wrong use of language and he should absolute retract it immediately," he said.
In a statement issued by his party last night, Alderman Calvert retracted his comments, saying: "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.
"I therefore wish to withdraw these comments.
"I do, of course, reserve the right to criticise the police and indeed the debate in which the remarks were made was one proposed by another party of no confidence in the local commander."
A TUV spokesman added: "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."
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Tuesday 29 May 2012
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