Arlene Foster: DUP leader says sorry after 'on fire' song offence

The first minister has apologised to a victim of the La Mon IRA bombing after the DUP sang 'Arlene's on fire' at its party conference in the venue.

Twelve people died in the blast at La Mon Hotel, on the outskirts of east Belfast, in 1978.

A video posted on social media at the DUP conference showed members singing as they adapted the Northern Ireland football anthem 'Will Grigg's on fire'.

Arlene Foster has now apologised for what happened.

On Tuesday, Billy McDowell, who was injured in the bombing, told the Belfast Telegraph that the DUP was "dancing on the graves" of those who died.

He told the newspaper he had contacted DUP headquarters to complain about the video, and said the party had acted in an "insensitive and disrespectful" way.

A DUP spokesperson said Arlene Foster had called Billy McDowell to apologise for any offence the video had caused to him and other La Mon victims

Mr McDowell's wife, Lily, was also among the 23 people who were injured in the La Mon attack.

On Wednesday, the Belfast Telegraph reported that the DUP leader had phoned Mr McDowell to apologise to him and the other victims.

Speaking to the newspaper, Mr McDowell said Arlene Foster had told him she was "extremely sorry" and that the singing was a "spur of the moment thing and shouldn't have happened".

'Unintentional'

He added that he had accepted the first minister's apology.

A DUP spokesperson has since confirmed to the BBC that Mrs Foster telephoned Mr McDowell to apologise and is to meet with him privately in the near future.

"Some younger members wanted to have their picture taken with the party leader at the end of the conference and sang an adaptation of a well-known Northern Ireland football song," the spokesperson said.

"No offence was intended" by any members of the DUP, the spokesperson added.

"We are sensitive to the pain felt by victims and realise that hurt can be caused, even in an unintentional manner."