Castlederg tensions grow as DUP attacks Sinn Fein and PSNI over Patterson issue

It also launched a verbal broadside at Sinn Fein, saying Councillor Patterson made “an error of judgement” while some in Sinn Fein are” guilty of serious crimes”.

A DUP spokesman said: “The DUP was founded on the principle that everyone should be equal under the law and equally subject to the law. Councillor Ruth Patterson has apologised for her remarks, accepted they were well below the standard expected of a public representative and not in keeping with the DUP’s values and ethos.

“The Party Officers also emphasised the unacceptable nature of these stupid and obnoxious comments and will conclude its own internal investigations.

“We fail to understand why the police chose to conduct a sensationalist arrest rather than contact Ruth and ask her to attend an Article 10 voluntary interview. This is a matter we will be raising with the Chief Constable.

“By contrast Gerry Kelly who bombed the Old Bailey and who was filmed obstructing a police land rover has yet to be arrested. Ruth was guilty of an error in judgment: others in Sinn Fein are guilty of far more serious crimes.

“If there is a legal process to be followed then we will await its outcome: others, who in the past set themselves up as judge, jury and sometimes literal executioners, should do likewise before commenting further.”