Education chiefs in Northern Ireland compared loyalist terrorist groups to children's charity organisations in a blundering document, it was revealed today.
The Ulster Defence Association (UDA) and Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) were bracketed with Barnardo's and the NSPCC in plans to strengthen services in disadvantaged Protestant neighbourhoods.
The gaffe sparked outrage, with demands for an urgent explanation. Even though the Department of Education insisted it had not drawn a parallel between outlawed paramilitaries and established charities, the issue is to be raised at the highest level.
Dolores Kelly, the SDLP's Equality spokeswoman, said: "It beggars belief that anybody would compare the UDA and UVF with Barnardo's and the NSPCC.
"Indeed it beggars belief that the UDA and UVF would be asked to help contribute to a plan to help children's education. "It is at the same time ludicrous and insulting."
The comparison was made in minutes of a meeting between school principals in Protestant areas of north and west Belfast, the chief executive of the city's Education and Library Board and a Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Department of Education.
Called as part of Renewing Communities, the Government's response to a taskforce report on working-class Protestant communities, it lists a series of actions needed to develop service delivery integration.
One point states: "Maintain/establish good working relationships with voluntary organisations (Barnardo's, NSPCC, UDA, UVF)."
But the authorities were adamant that any link arising from the meeting last year was unintentional. A Department of Education spokesman insisted neither it nor the Belfast Education and Library Board equated paramilitary organisations with those doing excellent charity work.
He added: "The document referred to is a minute of a meeting which took place in June 2006. "The minute reflects clumsily views expressed by those whose reflections were sought. "There was no deliberate intention from anyone to equate voluntary organisations with paramilitary bodies.
"This is a mistake in the drafting of the minutes." But Ms Kelly, whose party has accused the Department of illegal sectarian discrimination through an action plan which allegedly favours Protestant neighbourhoods for additional funding, refused to be placated.
"Barnardo's and the NSPCC do human rights work. The UDA and UVF threaten human rights workers," she said. "Barnardo's and the NSPCC protect children. The UDA and UVF beat them up.
"The SDLP will be writing to the Minister for Education seeking an urgent explanation for this ill-conceived and worrying plan."
PA