The Rev Harold Good yesterday defended Fr Alec Reid as a row erupted over the Clonard priest's remarks (see panel) at a meeting in south Belfast on Wednesday night. Mr Good, who accompanied Fr Reid as a witness to IRA decommissioning last month, said the remarks were made "in the context of a very heated moment . . . when some things were being said about him personally, about his church, about Clonard [ monastery].
"Allegations that were quite unfounded and unsubstantiated, which were very hurtful and dangerous, were being made. In the heat of that moment, Fr Alec reacted in a way that I know, from what he said to me later, he regretted the way in which he put it."
The DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson said Fr Reid's remarks were unfortunate. "We find it deeply offensive . . . incredible." He said he wasn't aware of Protestants gassing Catholics or committing genocide. However, the Lagan Valley MP said: "I accept his apology, but you can't put the genie back into the bottle. The comments do not really help the prospects of reconciliation in Northern Ireland. I hope that we can move on."
Other DUP members took a tougher line. Nigel Dodds said provocation was no defence for Fr Reid's remarks.
Willie Frazer of the victims' group Fair, who walked out of Wednesday's meeting in protest, said he did not accept Fr Reid's apology. He was incensed by the remarks. "I did fly off the handle but I could not sit there and allow him to accuse the unionist people of persecuting the Roman Catholic community for the last 60 years. That is far from the truth."
Five members of Mr Frazer's family were murdered during the Troubles. He said he did not accept Fr Reid's apology and accused him of "trying to backtrack on what actually took place".
UUP leader Sir Reg Empey said the comments damaged Fr Reid's credibility as a witness.
"It destroys confidence because how can the word of somebody using that sort of language be taken seriously? That's sad, because I'm convinced that a lot of decommissioning did take place, but Fr Reid is actually undermining the very work he is supposed to be part of."
Senator Martin Mansergh commended Fr Reid and Clonard monastery for his role in helping to end IRA violence.
Fr Reid had been provoked, Dr Mansergh added, but "I think we need to be very careful about using expressions like 'Nazi' to describe quite other situations."
Sinn Féin's Alex Maskey said: "Of course, we need to be careful in the language we use but we cannot ignore the elephant in the room. If we are going to meaningfully challenge it then we need have an honest debate about the true extent, nature and causes of sectarianism within our society.
For the SDLP, Dr Seán Farren said: "It is clear that he acknowledges that many people will have been offended by what was said. I believe that he has also offered to meet anyone who has taken offence at what he said."