Unionists still angry over McAleese comments

President Mary McAleese was tonight accused by unionists of failing to apologise properly for comments comparing Nazi prejudice towards Jews to the hatred of Catholics in Northern Ireland.

Unionist Assembly members lambasted the Belfast-born President despite her denial that she had intended to single out Protestants in controversial comments made during the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

Mrs McAleese said in a radio interview broadcast yesterday: “They (the Nazis) gave to their children an irrational hatred of Jews in the same way that people in Northern Ireland transmitted to their children an irrational hatred of Catholics, in the same way that people give to their children an outrageous and irrational hatred of those who are of different colour and all of those things.”

But after the comments infuriated unionists, a spokesperson for the President moved to defuse the row.

“The President was speaking about how the effects of hatred and intolerance are seen around the world and how they can impact on our children and one of the examples she used was Northern Ireland,” she said.

“Her comments were never intended to single out the Protestant people of Northern Ireland.

“The President’s record of equal and sincere support of both communities in Northern Ireland is well-documented.

“Throughout her career she has continually tried to transcend the barriers of sectarianism.”

Government officials were concerned that the comments could damage the President’s work to reach out to the Protestant community.

And their worst fears were underlined as unionists remained unimpressed by her statement.

Democratic Unionist Assembly member Ian Paisley Junior said: “Despite what she says about this not being an attempt to single out the Protestant community, those comments were very specific about a community training their children to hate Catholics.

“So who was she talking about ? It certainly wasn’t the Hindu people of Northern Ireland. It certainly wasn’t the Jewish community.

“I think it would be far better if she went away, reflected on this and tried again at being sincere.”

Ulster Unionist Assembly member Danny Kennedy said it was very clear no apology had been made.

“There does not appear to be even a shred of regret,” he said.

“She has made a serious mistake. I think she is compounding the insult by her failure to respond properly and realise the serious damage caused by her comments.

“She has to understand you cannot equate the systematic extermination of an entire race with sectarianism from whatever quarter.”

Nationalists sprang to the defence of President McAleese.

SDLP leader Mark Durkan said he did not believe she was trying to equate any of the prejudices in Northern Ireland with the systematic genocide of the Nazi regime.

He also accused unionists of rushing to condemn Mrs McAleese while being slow to confront sectarian attacks and abuse aimed at children attending Holy Cross Primary School in north Belfast or Catholics attending Mass in the Harryville area of Ballymena.

“No community in the North has a monopoly on prejudice. We must all confront it,” he said.

Sinn Féin Assembly member Alex Maskey claimed unionists were being hysterical.

“Unionism is in total denial about the history of this state,” he said.

“The most senior leaders of unionism routinely practised and encouraged institutionalised anti-Catholic discrimination.

“Unionist leaders to this day refuse to acknowledge that discrimination ever happened.”