A CHURCH of Ireland minister has described controversial remarks linking Michelle O'Neill's hair colour with IRA bombs as a "private joke".
Canon Mark Watson reportedly told an election event in support of Ulster Unionist Tom Elliott that he was "glad hydrogen peroxide is dyeing hair blonde and not going into creamery cans to make explosives".
The comments, referring to criticism of Arlene Foster last week for describing Mrs O'Neill as "blonde", were made at a gathering at an Orange hall attended by the DUP leader.
Sinn Féin last night called on the two unionist politicians to "disassociate themselves from sexist and outrageous remarks".
According to a report in the Impartial Reporter newspaper, Canon Watson made the comments to laughter at an Orange hall in Enniskillen on Saturday.
The rector of Trory and Killadeas told unionists supporting Mr Elliott's Westminster campaign: "Our friend the first minister mentioned the blondes.
"I am glad they are blondes because it means the hydrogen peroxide that's dying the hair isn't going into creamery cans to make explosives."
He added: "I hope there are no press about or I've just lost my job."
Canon Watson was also said to have gone on to "pray for victory" for Mr Elliott, who is seeking re-election in Fermanagh-South Tyrone on June 8.
The former Ulster Unionist leader was not reported to be present at the time the cleric's controversial remarks were made.
Just a few hundred votes separated Mr Elliott from Sinn Féin's Michelle Gildernew in the general election in 2015, with the DUP standing aside in the race.
Mrs Foster used the word "blonde" to describe Sinn Féin's northern leader as part of a word association game during an interview with the Sunday Independent.
She insisted it was "meant as a compliment", but Mrs O'Neill described her comments as sexist as "totally unbefitting of a leader".
Sinn Féin last night called for Mrs Foster and Mr Elliott to "disassociate themselves from sexist and outrageous remarks" made by the church minister.
Assembly member Jemma Dolan, who was herself criticised earlier this year for 'liking' a Facebook post which contained the hashtag "#f***ArleneFoster", described Canon's Watson's comments as "extraordinary".
"Tom Elliott and Arlene Foster were both at this event. I'm calling on them to dissociate themselves immediately from this sexist, disrespectful and nasty commentary," she said.
However, speaking to The Irish News last night, Canon Watson did not retract the remarks.
"I have no further comment to make," he said.
"It was a private function and a private joke.
"As far as I'm concerned it is over."
The DUP and UUP had last night not responded to requests for comment.
The Church of Ireland was also unavailable.
