Unionist plays down row over Pope visit mockery after naming of DUP duo

AN Ulster Unionist MLA has distanced himself from reports naming two DUP Assembly Members he claimed had mocked him over his attendance at the papal visit to Dublin.

Robbie Butler said he didn’t recognise the Irish News report published yesterday, stressing he did not want a “witch-hunt”.

The newspaper ran a front page story naming Christopher Stalford and one other MLA who criticised and ridiculed Mr Butler.

Earlier this week Mr Butler said one MLA “wagged his finger” and told him he had made a mistake before saying: “You know he’s the antichrist.”

He claimed another crossed himself in a mocking gesture as he passed the politician in a corridor at Stormont.

DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson described the behaviour as “unacceptable”.

Mr Stalford accepted that he had crossed himself while passing Mr Butler at Stormont but insisted that it was a “joke between friends”.

“I would never mock or deride someone because of their religious belief because I am a man of religious belief,” he told the Irish News.

The other DUP MLA said to have mocked Mr Butler did not address the issue when approached by the paper for comment, instead saying he had

Targeted: Robbie Butler

“more important things to be worrying about”.

In August no DUP representative attended the papal events in Dublin, with leader Arlene Foster saying that she was on holiday with her family.

The event also clashed with the annual Black Saturday parades.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Mr Butler said he had never wanted the names of those who ridiculed him to be revealed and insisted he would not be making them public despite the claims.

He added that he does not “recognise the story as printed in The Irish News”.

“It is not a fair representation of either myself nor the other MLAs named,” he said.

Mr Butler said that he made The Irish News aware of his position that he would not name those involved on Wednesday before publication of the claims.

“I made it clear when asked that the names were never going to be forthcoming,” the Lagan Valley MLA said.

“I’m not saying it has anything to do with (those named), I’ve never shared who it was and it was never my intention.

“Where they got it from I don’t know but it wasn’t from me. That’s not what I wanted to do.”

He said that he never wanted a “witch-hunt” over the issue.

“Criticism came from different quarters, and some possibly surprising ones.

“I’ve had criticism from other quarters, not just unionist ones and for different reasons,” he added.

Mr Butler said he wanted to further consider the issue before issuing any other comments.

Meanwhile, the DUP was also contacted to ask if it had anything further to add to yesterday’s claims.

Mr Stalford could not be reached for comment, nor could the other MLA.