Northern Ireland

Edwin Poots refuses to apologise for Catholic coronavirus comments, saying 'bad behaviour' spreads the virus

Edwin Poots has released a statement following backlash over controversial comments about the spread of Covid-19 among Catholics. Picture by Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye
Edwin Poots has released a statement following backlash over controversial comments about the spread of Covid-19 among Catholics. Picture by Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye Edwin Poots has released a statement following backlash over controversial comments about the spread of Covid-19 among Catholics. Picture by Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye

DUP MLA Edwin Poots has issued a statement following calls for him to resign over comments in which he claimed the “difference between nationalist areas and unionist areas is around six to one”.

The agriculture minister claimed “a lot of the problems started after the Bobby Storey funeral... and people in that community saw the breaking of the rules”.

Mr Poots has faced continued criticism and had been urged to apologise, with Sinn Féin branding his language "sectarian claptrap".

In a statement issued this afternoon, Mr Poots said: "Over the course of the last few days Sinn Féin and others have tried to distort and twist comments I made in reference to the spread of Covid-19. 

"At no time did I attribute the spread of Covid-19 to religion. It is deeply regrettable that such a narrative has been created. It is obvious such spread is related to behavioural issues nothing more nothing less. I cherish my Catholic friends and neighbours. I would never intentionally use words that would cause them offence.

"Covid-19 is spread by bad behaviour such as that exemplified at the Bobby Storey funeral."

The DUP and party leader Mrs Foster have not responded to a series of questions posed by The Irish News in the wake of the controversy.

The first minister was asked whether she shared Mr Poots' view on Covid-19 cases.

Ms Foster this afternoon said her colleague was right to "clarify" his comments and said she now considered the matter closed.

"I think it was right that he clarified what he had to say," she said.

"And I stand by that and I think it's right that he did do that."

The first minister added: "The clarity is there in the statement. As far as I'm concerned that's an end of the matter.

"It's important that we keep our heads, there's a lot of things happening at the moment, but it's also important that we all move forward and look at the bigger picture.

"Of course, the virus doesn't discriminate against people on the basis of their religion or their politics or where they live. It's right across Northern Ireland.

"It's right across the United Kingdom. Unfortunately, it's right across the world. So we need to step in now and take the right decisions to deal with it."

Mr Poots had also publicly criticised of new four-week restrictions imposed by the Executive. Mrs Foster had also been asked by the Irish News if she had confidence in the agriculture minister and if he should retain his post.

Yesterday, Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride said there is “no evidence” to support the claim that coronavirus is linked to “people’s political affiliation or religion”.

Speaking at a briefing with journalists, Michael McBride said: “At no stage publicly or privately have we linked cases with people’s political affiliation or religion. There is no such evidence.”

Speaking separately during assembly question time, Health Minister Robin Swann made similar points, telling MLAs there was no evidential basis for Mr Poots’ contention.