Mid and East Antrim Council row over ‘misinterpreted’ origins of coronavirus remarks

DUP Alderman John Carson said that he would be “taking no lessons from anyone who supports the murder of the unborn child” in response to criticism by Ballymena Alliance Councillor Patricia O’Lynn.

Ald Carson stated: “I am going to take no lessons from anyone that supports the murder of the unborn child. I make no apology for what I said. I stand over what I said but the media blew the whole thing out of proportion and they took a statement that I said and made it out I said something which I did not say.

“If Cllr O’Lynn thinks I have done anything wrong or I said anything wrong, channels are open to take whatever action she wants rather than attack me in a childish and foolish…”

The DUP man was responding to remarks during the remote meeting by Cllr O’Lynn who said she was “absolutely delighted to hear Alderman Carson say that lessons have been learnt” from the coronavirus crisis.

“Coronavirus did not discriminate amongst gender, race, religion or sexual lines. I hope he takes this opportunity  to reflect on his comments made about attributing blame to certain members of our community.

“These people maybe do not need food packages distributed to them but they do need us to stick together and act like a community.

“I hope going forward he takes that under his notice and continues to operate in a way that is conducive with MEA Borough Council standards like the rest of us.”

Commenting on social media after the meeting, Cllr O’Lynn said: “This evening  I simply challenged Aldr Carson on his comments insinuating Covid-19 was a result of ‘God’s judgment’ for legalising abortion and equal marriage.”

Cllr Carson has said previously that his claim that abortion and same sex marriage legislation were to blame for the coronavirus pandemic were “misinterpreted”.

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter

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