Northern Ireland

UUP withdraws whip from councillor over derogatory Facebook remarks

Ulster Unionist councillor Victor Warrington
Ulster Unionist councillor Victor Warrington Ulster Unionist councillor Victor Warrington

A UUP councillor has had the party whip withdrawn over derogatory Facebook comments he made seven years ago.

Victor Warrington, a Fermanagh and Omagh council representative, faced criticism after his social media posts resurfaced in recent days.

He made derogatory remarks about disabled people in a post in September 2012 in which he had listed the names of a fictional "Chinese Paralympic five-a-side team".

In December that year, he also posted a comment which changed the lyrics of the song Winter Wonderland and included the phrase "walking in a fenian wonderland".

The reworked lyrics appeared to reference unionist outcry over Belfast City Council's decision in December 2012 to limit the flying of the union flag at city hall.

The remarks in September 2012 would have been posted during London's hosting of the Paralympic Games.

In a statement on Tuesday night, Mr Warrington apologised for the remarks about disabled people.

"It's been brought to my attention that seven years ago, before I was elected, I put a tactless and tasteless comment on Facebook for which I would like to unreservedly apologise," he said.

The councillor for the Erne East area, who has multiple sclerosis, added: "As chairman of the Fermanagh and Omagh disability advisory group, and someone who suffers from a disability myself, I know it's no laughing matter.

"It was a stupid thing to say then and it's still stupid. Sincere apologies from me for the offence caused."

The UUP announced that party leader Steve Aiken had withdrawn the whip from Mr Warrington "with immediate effect".