The Deputy leader of the TUV has admitted he did “a wee bit of damage to the cause” after sharing a bogus AI image of a loyalist rally at Portadown which exaggerated the size of the crowd supporting the Orangemen at Drumcree.
At the monthly meeting of the full Belfast City Council, Sinn Féin Councillor Ryan Murphy mocked TUV Councillor and party deputy Ron McDowell for posting the images.
Councillor McDowell, who joined the meeting remotely, said he “owned” the damage the fake image caused, and called himself “an old eejit.”
On Tuesday Councillor McDowell admitted he shared an AI fake Drumcree crowd picture on social media, depicting a huge crowd at a loyalist rally in Portadown, for “entertainment.”
Over 200 people gathered in a car park in Portadown on Tuesday evening, but the image exaggerated the size of the crowd to make it look like a four figure sum in attendance.
Councillor McDowell gave mixed signals on another social media post by stating that on one hand he posted the photo image for entertainment, but added: “I really need to learn social media better. There’s no cure for stupid.”
He said: “Ironically the original image doing the rounds is the photo I took and I also released. So I’ve nothing to hide.”
The story gained prominence across many media outlets, and new images have appeared on social media depicting multiple Councillor McDowells in the City Hall chamber.
Sinn Féin Councillor Ryan Murphy brought up the matter during Thursday’s council meeting at City Hall, by citing a committee minute concerning the council’s response to the Stormont consultation on the Northern Ireland Draft Artificial Intelligence Strategy.
He said: “I was hoping that Councillor McDowell would have been in the chamber for this, but who knows, we might get another AI image later on of him sitting up there beside Councillor Doherty.”
He said “We are wondering which is the proper image” and raised A4 prints of the fake rally pictures in question, including one which he said was “a Glastonbury sized image of the rally.
“We can see the embarrassment on the other side of the chamber around the low number of people who actually support them. They are having to take AI to try and swell the ranks. I think that tells us everything we need to know.”
Speaking remotely online during the meeting, Councillor McDowell said: “It doesn’t take an old man with a misunderstanding of AI to not be embarrassed, coming to speak on this now.
“But don’t let the actions of this old eejit detract from what has been an incredibly well supported campaign around Drumcree.
“The 500 or so that were there when I was speaking doesn’t include those that were on the hill, doesn’t include those who attended (the rally) last night, and doesn’t include the vast swathe of support that has come from unionism right across the province, for the plight of the orangemen on the hill.
“One of the things that is most disappointing in all of this is the idea that you have had your rights denied for 28 years, and you should be used to it. So just suck it up, and take it. What price do we put on human rights?”
He said: “I own the wee bit of damage I have done to the cause, but the cause is right and the cause is just, and I am happy to stand with them.”
