Jon Burrows says Glover’s alleged sexual assault remarks belong in the 1970s

(L-R) UUP party leader and North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows, TUV Bannside councillor Anna Henry, and Alliance Party Braid councillor, Chelsea Harwood

Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows has condemned reported comments by DUP councillor Reuben Glover about girls’ clothing and an alleged sexual assault in Ballymena, saying such views should have been “consigned to the 70’s”.

Alliance councillor Chelsea Harwood has also called for an investigation and disciplinary action, describing the reported remarks as “outdated” and “misogynistic”.

Their interventions add to growing political criticism after Councillor Glover told the Belfast Telegraph that girls “shouldn’t dress as if they’re standing at a street corner” while discussing an alleged sexual assault which preceded serious disorder in Ballymena last summer.

Councillor Glover said he stood over a WhatsApp message posted at the time, although he also said the way a girl dressed did not give anyone the right to interfere with her.

Burrows: ‘These are shocking comments’

Mr Burrows, the UUP leader and North Antrim MLA, said women and girls could never be held responsible for sexual abuse inflicted upon them.

“These are shocking comments by Councillor Glover,” he said.

“Women and girls are not to blame, or anyway responsible, for sexual abuse inflicted upon them.

“These are comments I thought were consigned to the 70’s.”

His response carries particular local and political significance as both leader of the Ulster Unionist Party and an Assembly representative for North Antrim.

Alliance calls for DUP disciplinary action

Councillor Harwood said responsibility for sexual harassment and assault rested solely with the perpetrator.

“Sexual harassment and assault are the fault of no one but the perpetrator and the perpetrator alone,” she said.

“To place any kind of blame on the victims is utterly reprehensible. It gives cover to those committing such sickening crimes, seeks to make women and girls responsible for the violence inflicted on them, and is an outdated, misogynistic belief that only contributes to a wider culture which enables this violence to take place.

“It’s a mindset that must be confined to the past where it belongs.”

The Alliance representative said Councillor Glover’s decision to stand by the reported comments made the matter more serious.

“For Councillor Glover to make these comments in the first place is shocking, but to stand by them when called out after the fact is inexcusable and demonstrates very clearly where he stands when it comes to tackling violence against women and girls,” she said.

“If the DUP is as serious on this issue as they claim to be, investigation and disciplinary action is the very least that should be sought.”

Comments emerged from WhatsApp exchange

Ballymena DUP Councillor Reuben Glover

According to the Belfast Telegraph, Councillor Glover posted the message on June 9, 2025, in a WhatsApp group entitled North Antrim DUP Association.

It followed an alleged sexual assault in Ballymena on June 7. Two 14-year-old Romanian boys were arrested and charged, but prosecutors dropped the charges against them five months later.

In the message published by the newspaper, Councillor Glover wrote:

“Folks don’t be gaen mad here.

“The same thing happened a week or so back but it was a different story every day and yes I don’t agree with what happened that waen on Saturday night but for what I seen young girls dressed well if I was there parent they’d be staying home.

“But here is a good question where was there parents nowhere to be seen not giving a toss I have a full council meeting tonight but I will play it by ear to see what the rest do before I make a move. [sic]”

Another member of the group reportedly replied:

“I don’t say much in this group as I don’t know everyone. But I have never heard anything as stupid in my life Reuben to this comment mate. [sic]”

When asked by the Belfast Telegraph whether he believed there was a connection between how women dressed and sexual assault, Councillor Glover said boys should be taught to treat girls well.

However, he added:

“Girls shouldn’t dress as if they’re standing at a street corner. I don’t like that in a girl.”

He continued:

“I can’t tell a girl to wear a pair of trousers or longer skirt, but it doesn’t give a fella a right to interfere.”

Councillor Glover told the newspaper he stood over the message, but said the remarks reflected his personal views and that he was not speaking in his capacity as a councillor.

Anna Henry brands remarks ‘blatant victim blaming’

TUV Bannside councillor Anna Henry had earlier said she was “completely gobsmacked” after reading the Belfast Telegraph report.

“Councillor Glover said that ‘girls shouldn’t dress as if they are standing at a street corner’ in the context of discussing sexual assault,” she said.

“As a young female councillor, I find those remarks utterly disgraceful and completely unacceptable.

“It is blatant victim blaming.”

Councillor Henry said any suggestion that a woman or girl’s clothing was connected to whether she became the victim of sexual assault was “not only wrong — it is dangerous”.

“Let me be absolutely clear: women and girls are never responsible for the actions of predators,” she said.

“The blame lies solely and entirely with those who commit these horrific crimes.”

She added:

“As public representatives, our words carry weight. We have a responsibility to support victims, challenge harmful attitudes, and send a clear message that violence against women and girls will never be tolerated.

“Comments like these do the exact opposite.”

DUP says Glover apologises for offence caused

In a statement reported by the Belfast Telegraph, a DUP spokesperson said responsibility for sexual offences lay solely with perpetrators and that there could be no excuse or justification for criminal behaviour.

The spokesperson said:

“Like other representatives in the area, Alderman Glover was concerned for the welfare of constituents at a time of significant tension within the community.

“However, he regrets the comments which he expressed himself in a message within a closed group at the time and accepts it may have been interpreted in a way that was certainly not intended.

“He apologises for any offence caused by this.”

Pressure is now growing on the DUP to clarify whether any internal investigation or disciplinary action will follow, after calls from political figures urge for the remarks to be formally addressed.