THE DUP has said "no offence was intended" when members sang "Arlene's on Fire" at a hotel in which 12 people died in an IRA firebomb attack.
The attack on the La Mon House Hotel on the outskirts of Belfast in February 1978 has been described as one of the worst atrocities of the Troubles.
The DUP held its annual conference there at the weekend and a video posted on social media showed members singing loudly to their party leader with words adapted from the Northern Ireland football anthem 'Will Grigg's on fire'.
Billy McDowell, whose wife Lily suffered horrific burns in the 1978 attack, said the DUP had been "dancing on the graves" of those who died.
He told the Belfast Telegraph he had received a phone call from the First Minister in which she said she was "extremely sorry".
A DUP spokesman confirmed that Mrs Foster telephoned Mr McDowell to apologise and is to meet with him privately in the near future.
"Some younger members wanted to have their picture taken with the party leader at the end of the conference and sang an adaptation of a well-known Northern Ireland football song," he said.
"No offence was intended. We are sensitive to the pain felt by victims and realise that hurt can be caused, even in an unintentional manner."
