SINN Fein Councillor Barry Doherty has rejected Peter Robinson's claims that the IRA carried out 'genocide' in Fermanagh during the Troubles.

In an interview with thedetail.tv, the First Minister spoke of his anger at the targeting of protestants living in Border areas of Fermanagh by the IRA.

“This was genocide, this was ethnic cleansing, this was sectarianism,” he said.

Reacting to the interview, Councillor Doherty, the vice-chairman of Fermanagh District Council, has said Mr Robinson's comments “are neither helpful nor factually correct.” “Genocide. No. Don't accept that at all. Was there unwarranted pain and suffering? Yes. Does it still cast a shadow and are some people still acutely affected by all that happened ? Yes. The closest this island ever got to genocide was the famine era. Throughout the Troubles 111 people lost their lives in Fermanagh (the lowest death toll in any Northern County - however that’s not the point and nothing to crow about). That's 111 too many but it is not genocide.” “During a six year period over 48,000 people died in Fermanagh as a direct result of famine era policies. I feel uncomfortable pointing this out and mean no offence to anyone who is still affected by what went on in the years gone by. We can only live life by going forward but can only understand it by looking backwards. Statements like this from the First Minister are neither helpful nor factually correct. It is hard, I accept, to remove the emotion but to provide decent real leadership is what is required,” he said.