SDLP: DUP are 'moral dinosaurs'

The SDLP has accused the Democratic Unionist Party of bigotry and intolerance following its opposition to the establishment of a gay police officers’ association in the North.

The Gay Police Association has branches throughout Britain and is assessing the possibility of setting up a new one in the North.

Yesterday, DUP spokesman Sammy Wilson complained that the needs of gay police officers were getting special attention when the authorities were "breathing down the necks" of Orangemen within the PSNI. SDLP spokesman Joe Byrne responded to the comments by branding the DUP as "moral dinosaurs".

He said that, rather than attacking gay people, Mr Wilson should condemn those within his own party who would turn the North into a wasteland of bigotry, sectarianism and homophobia.