Row over council handshake

The top two posts on the council are being shared

A member of the Democratic Unionist Party could face disciplinary action after saying he could work with a Sinn Fein councillor in County Tyrone.

Thomas Kerrigan shook hands with Sinn Fein's Ivan Barr after they were respectively elected vice-chairman and chairman of Strabane District Council on Tuesday night.

The unprecedented move was also followed by Mr Kerrigan posing for photographs with Mr Barr.

But Mr Kerrigan issued a statement about the matter on Tuesday and said he was withdrawing his previous comments.

Thomas Kerrigan: Withdrew his remarks

"I am now withdrawing the statement I made last night at the Strabane council meeting, regarding working with Sinn Fein," he said.

"This is not the policy of the DUP."

The new East Londonderry MP, Gregory Campbell of the DUP, said members were fully aware of the consequences of co-operating with Sinn Fein.

He said the matter would be discussed at a meeting of all the party's new councillors on Saturday.

He added: "DUP policy is clear. We don't give any legitimacy whatsoever to Sinn Fein. We won't have dialogue with them, meet with them or debate with them, other than to oppose them at every possible opportunity.

"This will remain our position as long as they remain linked to a fully armed terrorist machine."

Officers of party

Speaking from London, DUP leader Ian Paisley said he had contacted Mr Kerrigan immediately after hearing the remarks.

"Mr Kerrigan has completely retracted the remarks that he has made and acknowledges that they should not have been made as the policy of the party is against any co-operation with IRA/Sinn Fein," the DUP leader said.

"The matter has now been referred to the officers of the party for any further disciplinary action."

Ivan Barr: Elected chairman

However, Mr Barr said he was not surprised by the handshake, as relationships between his party and the DUP on Strabane council had improved considerably in the last four years.

He said: "It is unfortunate that given that Councillor Kerrigan has demonstrated a willingness to work in a spirit of co-operation with others in the chamber, it would now appear that he has been subjected to pressure from his party to adopt a different attitude."

It is the first time in four years that a unionist has held one of the top two posts on the nationalist controlled council.