Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has condemned the abuse directed at female politicians leaving Belfast High Court earlier this week. The abuse targeted DUP MP Carla Lockhart and DUP peer Diane Dodds as they attended legal hearings related to the Drumcree parading dispute.

At a council meeting on Tuesday evening, UUP councillor Rosemary Barton called the abuse disgusting, saying people are entitled to walk in a free country without abuse being hurled at them. She specifically noted that Ms Lockhart was subjected to abuse and mocking about her appearance.

Sinn Féin councillors Debbie Coyle and Noleen Hayes also condemned the personal attacks. Cllr Hayes said that while she disagrees with the politics of Ms Lockhart and Mrs Dodds, no woman should be subjected to misogynistic abuse, and getting personal about someone’s looks is disgusting.

The council, however, was divided over First Minister Michelle O’Neill’s response to the abuse. DUP councillor Shirley Hawkes criticised Ms O’Neill, claiming she refused to condemn the abuse. Sinn Féin group leader Dermot Browne disputed this, saying Ms O’Neill had condemned abuse directed at elected politicians and had herself been subjected to abuse.

DUP councillor Errol Thompson argued Ms O’Neill had been given several opportunities at Stormont to condemn the attacks but failed to do so. Councillor John Feely described the criticism of Ms O’Neill as cheap points and said she has consistently condemned abuse directed at elected representatives, including Ms Lockhart.

SDLP and Alliance councillors, along with independent councillor Josephine Deehan, also condemned attacks on women and stressed the need to tackle abuse directed at female public representatives.