Indeed Mr McKay re-emphasised his comments this week after a man was attacked on the Doury Road, saying it was time that both the police and politicians 'take their heads out of the sand'.

In a prepared statement released on Monday, the Mayor vehemently challenged the Assemblyman's assertions, labelling them as 'irresponsible' and 'inflammatory'.

"I therefore question the motivation of a politician who would make such inflammatory statements without recourse to the facts as I have previously outlined.

"As Mayor of this Borough I am of the opinion that Community Relations have vastly improved in the Borough which I want to see continue, so I unreservedly ask the MLA to recant such misleading statements and give some positive support to all these good people in the Borough who are working for peace and prosperity and not open old wounds by making statements that are in my opinion misleading inaccurate and inflammatory."

In last week's Times, Mr McKay had stated: "There is clearly a gang culture here in the town and that is where many of these sectarian attacks are emanating from.

"What is particularly concerning is the fact that minors are becoming increasingly involved in this behaviour, something that became clear when Michael McIlveen was killed in the town."

The Mayor, also hit out at the recent BBC Panorama documentary on Ballymena, highlighting the positive steps being taken by local schools to enhance community relations.

Maurice said: "Programme makers, media representatives and Mr. McKay MLA should avail themselves of an opportunity to attend Ballymena Arts Centre on Thursday June 19th 2008 to hear that the majority of young people living in Ballymena are showing a willingness to live and work together despite their different religious and cultural backgrounds.
"Such a positive contribution would prove to be very much at variance with Mr. McKay's alarmingly stark predictions of further sectarian murders in Ballymena in the future."

The Mayor's statement in full:

"Any elected representative has a duty to consider the welfare of all constituents within their electoral area.
It was incredulous to read the
irresponsible comments emanating from Mr. D. McKay MLA re his perception of the community relations situation in the Borough. Rather than perceptions I prefer to reply on factual evidence as presented by statutory bodies - in this instance PSNI.

"At the last public meeting of the DPP we were presented with a report for the first three quarters of the last financial year and I quote "Reduction in the total number of sectarian activities over the period dropped to 44 instances compared to 129 in the previous corresponding period, which is a 65.9% reduction".

"Another interesting statistic from the same Report noted that criminal damage which in the past has often been associated with community tensions dropped by22.3%. Further examination of the trend pattern in this Report shows a consistent decline in both those areas under question. On this basis the MLA's statement and assertion is factually inaccurate.

I therefore question the motivation of a politician who would make such inflammatory statements without recourse to the facts as I have previously outlined. As Mayor of this Borough I am of the opinion that Community Relations have vastly improved in the Borough which I want to see continue, so I unreservedly ask the MLA to recant such misleading statements and give some positive support to all these good people in the Borough who are working for peace and prosperity and not open old wounds by making statements that are in my opinion misleading inaccurate and inflammatory.

"The timely reaction by the nine post-primary school principals in the Borough regarding a malignant portrayal in a recent 'Panorama' programme focusing on life in Ballymena ten years after the signing of the Belfast Agreement points out the sterling work carried out by young people in the 11 - 19 year old age group over recent years.
"Programme makers, media representatives and Mr. McKay MLA should avail themselves of an opportunity to attend Ballymena Arts Centre on Thursday June 19th 2008 to hear that the majority of young people living in Ballymena are showing a willingness to live and work together despite their different religious and cultural backgrounds.
"Such a positive contribution would prove to be very much at variance with Mr. McKay's alarmingly stark predictions of further sectarian murders in Ballymena in the future."