Race row heats up NI Policing Board

A racial row is set to be reignited inside the Northern Ireland Policing Board, it emerged tonight.

As chairman Desmond Rea’s attempts to reassure two of the authority’s human rights advisers over remarks by SDLP member Alex Attwood, unionist rivals pledged to go on the offensive.

DUP representatives Sammy Wilson and Ian Paisley Jr said they want to know if Mr Attwood has apologised to lawyers Keir Starmer QC and Jane Gordon over alleged criticisms of their nationality.

The SDLP man, who accused the pair of producing a flawed report into a flashpoint Orange Order parade in north Belfast, described them as English lawyers at a board meeting, even though Ms Gordon is from Northern Ireland.

Mr Rea later wrote to both legal representatives, telling of the concern the comments had caused.

He said: “Not only was this an inaccurate statement to make, but it was inappropriate and does not reflect the view of other board members."

Mr Attwood had criticised their report which cleared police of blame for the violence that erupted during a July 12 march through the Ardoyne.

The West Belfast MLA said he had personally contacted Mr Starmer to stress any upset was not intended.

“If I said something in haste that has angered anyone I will acknowledge that. “That’s the proper way for people in public life to respond when there’s a perception that things might have caused upset.

“There was something I said that was inaccurate, that one of the lawyers was from England when she was from the North.”