Online apology made to Lib-Dems

Jun 13 2012 by Lynn Jolly, Paisley Daily Express

PAISLEY Councillor Terry Kelly yesterday apologised to Liberal Democrats who threatened legal action over his “offensive” online comments.

The maverick Labour man updated his blog to make it clear that he wasn’t referring to three Renfrewshire members when he said Lib Dems were “on the make and on the take”.

The Express revealed yesterday that Paisley South West Lib-Dem Councillor Eileen McCartin and former Lib Dem councillors Mike Dillon and Susan McDonald were livid over the comments.

Ms McCartin confirmed the trio had sent a lawyer’s letter to Mr Kelly over what they viewed as internet abuse.

She said: “On May 7, in his first blog after the recent elections in May, he again wrote abusive and potentially-libellous comments about me and my two colleagues, referring to the Lib-Dems as being ‘on the make and on the take’.

“As a councillor, businessman and charity manager, we are not prepared to put up with this utterly improper language.”

However, Mr Kelly told the Express he apologised to Ms McDonald in writing and at no time meant to offend the group and was referring to the Lib-Dems at Westminster.

Yesterday, his blog had been updated to say: “I have been accused by ex Liberal Democrat councillors Dillon and McDonald as well as serving Liberal Democrat Councillor McCartin of making slanderous remarks against them in this article, and they have demanded an explanation and an apology.

“I have sent an explanation and an apology to ex-Councillor McDonald who wrote to me on behalf of herself and her two colleagues. This has been rejected by them and I am now writing this addition to the article to explain my position.

“The Liberal Democrats referred to in this article are those who formed the Coalition Government with the Tories that is now causing so much pain and distress to the most vulnerable members of our communities – not Mr Dillon, Ms McDonald and Ms McCartin.”

Mr Kelly admits that “following several re-reads” and “in all fairness” he could have made his point clearer in the May 7 blog.

He added: “In my 14 years serving on the council, I have never accused any Liberal Democrat councillor, indeed any other councillor, of any financial impropriety. My disagreements with them are honest and many, but I do not consider them to be dishonest.

“My position remains the same and that is that my apology is genuine and still stands.”