A TUV councillor has strongly condemned remarks by a DUP councillor that linked girls’ clothing to an alleged sexual assault in Ballymena, describing them as victim blaming.

TUV Bannside councillor Anna Henry criticised DUP Ballymena councillor Reuben Glover after he suggested that how girls dressed could be connected to an alleged sexual assault. She called the comments blatant victim blaming and said women and girls are never responsible for the actions of sexual predators.

The controversy stems from a WhatsApp message posted by Glover on 9 June 2025 in a closed North Antrim DUP Association group. The message followed an alleged sexual assault in Ballymena on 7 June. Two 14-year-old boys were arrested and charged, but prosecutors dropped the charges five months later.

In the message, Glover wrote that girls were dressed in a way he would not allow his own children to dress, questioned where their parents were, and said they should not dress as if they were standing on a street corner. When later questioned, he stood by some of those remarks but said they represented his personal views and not his role as a councillor.

A DUP spokesperson later said Glover regretted the comments and apologised for any offence caused. The spokesperson added that criminal behaviour has no excuse and that responsibility for sexual offences lies solely with perpetrators.

Henry said public representatives have a duty to support victims and challenge attitudes that could leave survivors feeling blamed. She said every woman should be free to wear what they choose without fear of violence, and that the words of elected officials carry weight.