Disgraced councillor apologises to young traveller after slur

A DISGRACED Tory councillor and magistrate who made offensive social media posts about gypsies has apologised to a young traveller.

Police are investigating after Nick Harrington, who has now quit both roles, tweeted a tasteless post during the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday.

After Ireland failed to award any points to the UK’s Lucie Jones, wrote: “#Eurovision2017. Thanks Ireland. You can keep your f****** gypsies!”

He then added that a “hard border” was coming – a reference to stricter border controls behind the UK and Ireland post-Brexit.

It also emeged that in an earlier Facebook post, Mr Harrington, who represented Stoneleigh and Cubbington, had compared a black scarecrow he had made to British Olympic gold medallist Christine Ohuruogu.

Mr Harrington apologised publicly on Wednesday but first said sorry to a teenage traveller who contacted him at the weekend, asking for an explanation of his tweet.

Ben Bennett, 13, demanded an explanation on why he penned the tweets and spoke of the prejudice he and his family faced.

Romany gypsy Ben, who appeared on Channel 5’s Gypsy Kids, “I wish to make you aware of how your racist comments impacts on my community and myself directly.

“I have had to change schools 12 times because of the prejudice attacks that I have suffered from teachers and pupils alike.

“In just my 13 years of life I have dealt with: struggling with access to health care, finding a school who accepts gypsies, fighting to have a home... watched as my parents car was set on fire. Escaped from a burning trailer.

“All this because I am a Romany Gypsy.

“Your unkind and unlawful racist comments are deeply offensive and hurtful to me and my family, you are supposed to be a person in society that represents your constituents equally.”

In a reply to the teen, Mr Harrington apologised and assured Ben that he would accept the consequences of his actions.

He wrote: “I am truly deeply sorry for the offence I have caused. I certainly never intended to insult the travelling community or people of Irish heritage.

“I am co-operating fully with the police and will accept whatever consequences come from my appalling behaviour.

“I hope those that I have offended may eventually give me some forgiveness.”

Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Harrington formally tendered his resignation from council life after having already been removed from his role as a magistrate.

In his statement he said: “I apologise unreservedly. My comments about the Irish border were also foolish. In addition there have been comments about my Facebook post of an entry in a scarecrow competition last year which was based on the Olympics. I accept this was ill-judged for which I apologise to Christine Ohuruogu.

“Therefore it is with deep regret that I formally tender my resignation as Member for Stoneleigh and Cubbington Ward effective immediately.”