The chairman of the Ulster Scots Agency has insisted that the arrest of one of its consultants on child sex offence charges is not likely to damage the agency's work in the US.
Lord Laird said he was "shocked and devastated" to hear that Mr Stan Mallon, who was employed by the agency on a temporary basis, had been arrested at a hotel in Chicago.
Mr Mallon (62), a retired civil servant and former official at the Industrial Development Board, was charged following an Internet sex investigation by the Child Exploitation Unit of the Chicago Police Department.
He was arrested last weekend as he waited outside his hotel, allegedly to meet a 14-year-old girl with whom he had communicated on an Internet chat-line.
The girl was in reality a police officer.
Officers raiding his room found a video camera ready for operation, a dozen condoms and a gold necklace and cross which they believed he intended to give to the girl as a present.
Lord Laird said the arrest was a "major tragedy" for Mr Mallon's family.
Mr Mallon had been in the US to attend receptions as part of the St Patrick's Day celebrations.
However, it became apparent that he was in some sort of difficulty when he failed to turn up at the events, Lord Laird added.
"He wasn't in Chicago on Ulster Scots business.
"He was a part-time consultant with us and his activity had nothing to do with us," he insisted.
At times Mr Mallon's responsibilities would, however, have involved acting as the agency's interim chief executive until the post was filled full-time, Lord Laird admitted.
The agency is part of the North-South language body aimed at promoting both Irish and Ulster-Scots.
The North's Arts Minister, Mr Michael McGimpsey, whose Department runs the agency jointly with the Ministry of Culture, Heritage and the Arts, said Mr Mallon had been with the body on a temporary basis.
"I'm aware that a legal process is under way in America.
"We must allow the process to take its course.
"Mr Mallon has a contract, and I think that contract will be considered in the light of this," Mr McGimpsey concluded.