THE DUP was last night told to "back or sack" DUP councillor Ruth Patterson after she voiced support for a violent attack on a republican parade.
The outspoken Belfast council-lor was yesterday forced to apologise for the Facebook post in which she described senior Sinn Fein figures as "evil, devious scum".
Police have confirmed to The Irish News that they are investigating the online post which has since been deleted.
It is not the first time remarks by Ms Patterson have prompted outrage. In May this year the DUP moved to distance itself from the former UDR woman after she spoke at a loyalist rally where she accused the PSNI of political policing.
Ms Patterson made the latest remarks in response to a fictional news post from a loyalist on Facebook.
The post reported that an indiscriminate gun and bomb attack had taken place in Castlederg in Co Tyrone, where a disputed republican march is due to take place this month.
Those killed in the fictional massacre included Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams and North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly.
Responding to the post, Ms Patterson wrote: "Who cares how we would be judged, we would have done a great service to Northern Ireland and the world...
"Would I shed a tear? No. Would I loose (sic) a night's sleep? No, would I really worry about what anyone else thought? No."
The DUP councillor's comments, which come just days after it emerged that Sinn Fein MLA Phil Flanagan is to be investigated for retweeting a lewd joke about the royal couple, have been widely condemned.
Sinn Fein MLA Barry McElduff, who himself was listed among the casualties on the controver-sial Facebook post, said the DUP needed to distance itself from Ms Patterson's support for a violent attack on the Castlederg parade.
"This is a shocking comment from an elected representative who is endorsing the slaughter of people attending the parade by machine-guns, rocket-launchers and grenades," he said.
"This type of talk is totally irresponsible and highly dangerous."
SDLP councillor Tim Attwood described the remarks as "dangerous and ill-judged".
"This is the worst example of a number of inappropriate comments from DUP representatives in recent times," he said.
"Her apology only goes so far - the DUP needs to act robustly about this matter."
Belfast Alliance councillor Mervyn Jones said the DUP needed to "back or sack" Ms Patterson.
"This is completely unacceptable language for an elected representative to use," he said.
"I am shocked that somebody would make such dangerous and irresponsible comments."
But Ms Patterson received support from prominent flag protester Jamie Bryson, who issued a statement despite not having seen the comments.
"I would always be extremely supportive of Ruth who speaks from the heart," he said
"I will watch with interest at the response of the DUP. Will they back a good Ulster protestant or will they jump to appease Sinn Fein?"
A DUP statement said Ms Patterson's comments were not in keeping with the party's policies or the standard of behaviour required of its members.
"Whilst the officers of the party will clearly be looking at this issue they will take account of her subsequent statement," it said.
Ms Patterson's apology said she completely withdrew the "flawed Facebook comment".
"Murder and terrorism can never be justified in any circumstances," she said.
"To descend to such a level would be to repeat the actions of those we stood against during the dark days of Northern Ire-land's Troubles."
She described the post as "illjudged" and "completely incompatible" with the polices of the Democratic Unionist Party.
"I recognise that my careless comments fall short of the standards expected of anyone holding a responsible post," she said.
"I deeply and sincerely apologise."