The Sinn Féin MLA Martina Anderson has apologised for a controversial tweet in which she mentioned a payment scheme for victims of the North’s Difficulties was “mainly for those who fought Britain’s dirty war in Ireland”.

Victims groups and other political parties had condemned the social media message and named on Ms Anderson to apologise.

The Foyle MLA mentioned she apologised “unreservedly for the harm and offence prompted by my tweet to individuals who endured major damage throughout the conflict listed here.”

She explained her responses as “clumsy” and “not directed at them”, indicating it was “never my intention to lead to them any hurt.

“All victims of the conflict are entitled to acknowledgement of their discomfort and reduction and I aid them in their efforts to get their pension,” she explained.

In the tweet on Sunday, which has given that been deleted, Ms Anderson also reported the estimated £800 million (€889 million) was “mainly 4 all those concerned in Collusion … mostly 4 British Troops like Paras who murdered ppl on Bloody Sunday and Ballymurphy … generally to discriminate, criminalise and exclude.”

Victims campaigner Alan McBride, of the WAVE Hurt Team – which campaigned for the introduction of the victims’ payment plan – told the BBC the tweet was “insulting and offensive and also inaccurate” and claimed Ms Anderson “should have the moral bravery to stand up and say she obtained this very, pretty incorrect.”

The deputy 1st minister and Sinn Féin’s vice president, Michelle O’Neill, also issued a assertion on Monday stating that she experienced instructed Ms Anderson to delete the tweet.

“I contacted occasion colleague Martina Anderson yesterday night and explained to her that her tweet was ill-regarded as and would trigger harm and offence to victims,” she reported. “I informed her she need to delete the tweet.

“Martina has considering the fact that apologised. Enable me restate that all victims should have acknowledgement of their decline and suffering and equally I and we and in Sinn Féin assist them in their efforts to get what they are entitled to.”

Before, Ms O’Neill said: “As joint head of Governing administration I stay committed to delivering a Victims Payment plan, which is demands centered and open up to all who ended up significantly physically and psychologically wounded all through the conflict.”

There has been political disagreement above whether any person convicted of inflicting serious damage for the duration of the Troubles need to qualify for payments, and above who need to fund the scheme.

Justice Minister Naomi Extensive has explained the payments to the most badly hurt could price tag £800 million (€889 million).

Very last week, Sinn Féin’s vice-president was hugely criticised by the Substantial Court docket for refusing to comply with a legislative necessity to established up the plan to obtain political leverage around the United kingdom Governing administration.

The joint legal problem from the delay was brought by Jennifer McNern, who misplaced both of those legs in a Problems bombing in 1972, and Brian Turley, just one of the “Hooded Men” who ended up arrested and interrogated by the British Military in 1971.

The plan was due to open for programs at the conclude of May well but tiny progress has been made because of to a failure by the Govt Business (TEO) which is shared by Ms O’Neill and Initially Minister Arlene Foster, to nominate a Stormont section to choose accountability for it.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood mentioned: “The comments produced by Martina Anderson this evening are unacceptable, disgusting and grossly insulting to hundreds of victims who sustained everyday living-shifting bodily and psychological accidents related to Difficulties incidents.”

DUP Foyle Assembly member Gary Middleton claimed the responses ended up deeply offensive.

“People who have lived most of their life with shrapnel from an explosion in their system or who are haunted with the scent, flavor and sound of a bombing ought to not be labelled by Martina Anderson.”

UUP justice spokesman Doug Beattie claimed it was “deluded nonsense”.

“Sinn Féin is obviously so fully commited to justifying the murderous criminality of the IRA which murdered and wounded so many innocent men and women, that it is organized to continue to slur its victims,” he mentioned.

“They are without shame and demonstrate an appalling deficiency of humanity.”