I shudn't call bigots,racists or homophobes bastards.Mea culpa.But equality IS the only way 2 break them. & education &end 2 sectarianism. — Gerry Adams (@GerryAdamsSF) November 24, 2014 Source: Gerry Adams /Twitter

SINN FÉIN LEADER Gerry Adams has said “mea culpa” over using the word “bastard” when talking about unionists.

He came under fire after referring to “bastards” while saying there is “bigotry” in unionism. Adams made the comment during a party meeting in Enniskillen.

The Impartial Reporter said that Adams was referring to “bigotry” that he believes exists in some sections of unionism.

https://audioboom.com/boos/2680132-gerry-adams-on-bigotry-in-unionism-the-point-is-to-break-these-b-rds

Click here to listen to the full recording.

In a recording published by the paper, Adams tells the meeting:

The point is to break these bastards – that’s the point. And what’s going to break them is equality. That’s what’s going to break them – equality.

Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness told Morning Ireland:

Gerry shouldn’t have said it and he did apologise and I think that is in strong contrast to others who have made much more offensive remarks who have not apologised. I think it’s very important to say the context Gerry made the remarks was in the context of people who were homophobes, racists or sectarian bigots. But that doesn’t excuse the use of the word.

DUP MLA Arlene Foster said on the DUP website:

Respect is a two-way street. The hyperbole from republicans over recent days has been exposed as hypocrisy. Republicans use the Irish language as a weapon and tonight Gerry Adams confirms that they view equality as another weapon to attack unionists, or “these b******s” as he would term us.

She also questioned if Sinn Féin will “now unleash a tirade of outrage against their Party President or will they once again stand behind him”.

She said that Adams has “been disrespectful to an entire community” and she awaits details of a disciplinary hearing.

In a tweet, Adams said: “I shouldn’t call bigots, racists or homophobes bastards”.