Northern Ireland

DUP hit out at Galway's Paisley remarks

Sir James Galway has revealed he describes himself as coming from the "British occupied part of Ireland"
Sir James Galway has revealed he describes himself as coming from the "British occupied part of Ireland" Sir James Galway has revealed he describes himself as coming from the "British occupied part of Ireland"

BORN and raised as a Protestant in north Belfast, Sir James Galway has delivered an unexpected broadside on his Presbyterian upbringing saying he regards himself as someone from "British occupied part of Ireland".

The world renowned musician also launched an astonishing attack on Ian Paisley saying the former DUP leader was "responsible for killing indirectly by planting the thoughts of violence" in the "heads of people who had no more sense".

The comments, made as the famous flautist arrived in Belfast for BBC Music Day, provoked a storm of criticism from the DUP who threatened pending legal action.

And last night Sir James was forced to make further comment saying he never intended to cause offence.

"Music is my life and love. We all have our views on life. I am here today to celebrate music. I love Northern Ireland and it is never my intent to cause offence," he said in a brief statement.

Galway, who grew up in the loyalist York Street area and learned to play the flute in a Protestant marching band, said he never admired Ian Paisley snr telling the BBC Nolan Show that "I think he was on paper a man of God but in reality I don't think he was".

Before a major political turnaround in sharing power with Sinn Fin Ian Paisley, who was the leader of the Free Presbyterian Church, had launched countless attacks over the years on Catholicism and republicanism.

When asked if he believed Dr Paisley, who died last year, was responsible for some deaths during the Troubles he said: "Well, I'm sure he was because he wasn't exactly preaching let's all live together, was he?".

"How many people do you think he was responsible for killing indirectly by planting the thoughts of violence and no surrender in the heads of people who had no more sense?

"How can you justify setting one side against another?"

The 75-year-old, who has lived in Switzerland for the last 40 years, also spoke of how growing up in Belfast as a young Protestant he believed he was "brainwashed" by Presbyterians who "made the school systems separate".

"If they had all been together in the first place we may not have so many problems," he said.

The musician, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 2001, said he considered himself to be Irish, rather than Northern Irish.

"I would like Ireland to be Ireland. People ask me where do you come from and I say Ireland," he said.

"And they say 'are you Irish?' And I say 'yes I'm Irish'.

"No (I don't consider myself to be Northern Irish). I am Irish.

"(The difference) is very complicated. They say, 'well how do you become a Sir?' I say, 'because I come from the British occupied part of Ireland'."

But DUP MP Sammy Wilson said the musician's remarks - made ahead of his performance last night at Crumlin Road Gaol for BBC Music Day - were "out of touch and incoherent".

"I have always admired Sir James work but some of his comments were offensive, inaccurate and downright disgraceful," he said.

The East Antrim MP said: "For Sir James to express his pro-republican viewpoint, criticise Northern Ireland being part of the United Kingdom but then accept a knighthood from our Monarch is hypocritical".