A community leader has apologised for making a racist remark at a public meeting.
Chris Cunningham, Inverkeithing Community Council chairman, used an offensive term to describe a local shopkeeper. He was immediately challenged by appalled fellow community councillors at the meeting held to discuss an annual event in the town.
The next day Mr Cunningham wrote to members of the body, which represents and promotes the general interests of the community, to issue a “heartfelt apology” for his “inappropriate remark”.
However, fellow community councillor Wayne Morris who is considering resigning unless the incident is dealt with said local people should be told what sort of language was being used at community council meetings.
He said he and others at the meeting were horrified by what long-serving community councillor Mr Cunningham had said.
“It was completely wrong,” he said. “How someone who is the chairman of a community council or in public life in any way can justify remarks like that is beyond me.
“I believe the people of Inverkeithing deserve to know the type of thing that is being said at Inverkeithing Community Council meetings.”
Mr Cunningham’s brief letter to community councillors said: “I sincerely apologise for the inappropriate remark I made, which I appreciate was offensive.”
The meeting, to discuss the traditional Hat and Ribbon Race on August 2, was open to the public but only seven community councillors and a local councillor attended.
Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay councillor Alice McGarry was among those said to have confronted Mr Cunningham over his remarks.
Afterwards she said: “There was a remark made which was unacceptable and which has since been apologised profusely for.
“As far as I am concerned it is over and done with. It is up to the community council to deal with this internally.”
Mr Cunningham reiterated his apology when contacted by The Courier.
He added: “In no way did I mean to be hurtful or malicious. I deeply regret my actions.”
It is not the first time Mr Cunningham’s behaviour at a community council meeting has been called into question.
Minutes of the council’s March meeting note discussion of his “unacceptable conduct” at a previous meeting.