North's Wells sorry for gay-marriage 'abuse' comments

The North's Health Minister has apologised for controversial remarks he made about gay marriage and child abuse at an election husting.

Democratic Unionist Jim Wells faced a storm of criticism last night when video footage taken from the event in the South Down constituency was posted on social media.

His contentious remarks appeared to suggest a child was at more risk of abuse or neglect if brought up in a homosexual relationship, because such marriages were less stable.

2pm Update: The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed it had received a complaint about Mr Wells' comments and was making enquiries.

Mr Wells, who is a South Down Assembly Member and is standing for election in the Westminster poll, this morning said sorry for the offence he caused.

“I have listened to a recording of the relevant part of the debate,” he said.

“I accept that one line of what I said caused offence and deep concern amongst members of the audience and beyond. I regret having wrongly made that remark about abuse and I’m sorry those words were uttered. The comment did not reflect my view nor that of my party.”

The Stormont Health Minister, whose wife Grace is in hospital after suffering two strokes, said he was not fully focused on the debate.

“The last few weeks have been extremely difficult for me personally,” he said.

“I had just come from a hospital visit and my focus was not on the debate. Indeed, during the event I received several messages from the hospital.”

He added: “Within seconds of realising this error, I asked the chairman to let me back in and twice corrected my remarks before the debate moved on. This clarification has been confirmed by the journalists present at the event. Partial clips, spin and selective reporting regrettably miss this.

“The neglect or abuse of children is awful and happens in unstable relationships whether they are heterosexual or homosexual. I make no distinction between anyone who neglects or abuses a child, regardless of their sexual orientation.

“I trust people will accept my explanation and my apology.”

In the short video clip of last night’s event, Mr Wells said that “facts show you certainly don’t bring a child up in a homosexual relationship”.

In the footage, he continued his point by claiming children were more likely to be abused or neglected in “non-stable” marriages.

At one point his remarks are drowned out by angry shouts from the audience.