A SCOTTISH councillor has offered an “unreserved apology” after using sectarian language in a newspaper column in support of an Orange march which sparked controversy in the local community.
Inverclyde councillor Drew McKenzie wrote a column in the Greenock Telegraph on Wednesday in which he described King William the Third as a “Proddy” and King James the Second and Seventh as a “Tim”. He also said the Orange walk, which is due to go ahead on Saturday after a public backlash, would be “quite a spectacle", while using other provocative sectarian language.
The article followed Inverclyde Council’s general purposes board’s go-ahead of the march at a recent meeting, despite growing community tensions with 40 public objections raised.
The planned gathering will feature around 30 flute bands with more than 3000 people expected to march through the streets of Gourock.
McKenzie, who described the “gallous swagger” of those participating and the uniforms as a “sign of authority”, has since said his attempt to be “humorous” was very much an “error of judgment”.
He told the Greenock Telegraph: “I was told many years ago by a well-respected, now former, councillor that when it comes to Orange Order marches to do nothing.
“Do not support, do not oppose, just let it happen. Good advice that I should have adhered to.
“To write my column on such an emotive subject in an attempt to be humorous was very much an error of judgment on my part.
“I would also acknowledge that my use of certain language, particularly in the vernacular, was not at all appropriate.
“I would therefore offer my unreserved apology to any that I have offended.”
David Scott, director of the anti-sectarian group Nil by Mouth, has said he’s received a number of complaints from people in Gourock about the article.
He has also confirmed he’s contacted the council’s leader asking to discuss the situation and that he is aware McKenzie, who sits an an independent, has since apologised for what he wrote.
Scott said: “He has subsequently recognised his error of judgment and apologised for any offence caused and I welcome this.
“Parades are a deeply emotional and often controversial issue and it’s paramount that those making decisions understand both the sensitivities and concerns involved.
“It's an issue that requires mature conversation and thought and the language that we all use extremely important.”
Inverclyde Council leader Stephen McCabe has said he has spoken to McKenzie on the matter and believes he’s “not that type of person” and was merely being humorous.
He said: “I don’t believe the provost intended to cause offence to anyone or any group. He is not that type of person.
“He was I believe trying to use humour to explain the challenges faced by councillors on the general purposes board in coming to a decision on a highly contentious issue.
“Having spoken to the provost, he accepts that in hindsight the column was ill-judged, and he is sorry for any unintended offence he may have caused.”
