BY AILEEN MURPHY

A remark by Ballinamallard DUP Councillor, Bert Johnston sparked outrage in the Council Chamber on Monday night.

During a debate, in the Townhall, on a Report on rural isolation, Councillor Johnston commented: "Protestants generally don't live off hand-outs."

Continuing, he said he had heard it said: "If you want your form filled-up, don't be vague ask a Taig."

This comment was angrily received by, among others, Sinn Féin Councillor, Thomas O'Reilly. He sought an immediate apology from Councillor Johnston, describing his remark as, 'disgraceful'.

However, the DUP representative refused to rescind his comment, saying only: "It wasn't me that said it. It's just something that was said to me."

Councillor Johnston's comments came in response to a statement from Councillor Ó'Cobhthaigh who had criticised the Fermanagh Rural Community Development Initiative (FRCDI). It produced a Report which came to the conclusion that the rural Protestant population in Fermanagh felt excluded and isolated among the Roman Catholic community, and that it was a divided community that needed to come together before embracing cross-community work.

Mr Ó'Cobhthaigh said: "I believe the Report failed in its stated aim of identifying disadvantage and, instead, I believe this Report represents an attempt to twist the legitimate needs of disadvantaged Protestant communities into the narrow political interests of a section of political unionism."

Councillor Ó'Cobhthaigh added: "The Report has sectarian undertones. It says at one point that Protestants have suffered from what they call the Protestant attitude of, 'Nothing for nothing' and that it was 'not the Protestant way to ask for handouts'.

"The implication, of course is," he suggested, " that there is a parallel 'Catholic' attitude of 'something for nothing' and a handout culture.

"Such simplistic ethnic stereotypes would not be out of place in apartheid South Africa, yet they are commonplaces in this Report. It is riddled with supremacist angst at change undermining their place in society."

Concluding he added: "The Council part funded this report. I would suggest, looking retrospectively, it represented a less than useful investment. I would like to propose this Council dissociate itself from this Report."

The Sinn Féin representative also called on the Chief Executive of the Council, "to clarity the Council's policies, for the record, on funding Reports like this?"

But, when he asked: "Does the Council enforce standards when it comes to sectarian or prejudicial statements and standards of research?" the Chief Executive, Rodney Connor declined a response.