A WAR of words has broken out between two Down Councillors about alleged lawlessness and sectarianism in Killyleagh.

Sinn Fein representative for Downpatrick, Eamonn McConvey, has claimed there is a Loyalist drugs turf war in the town and innocent Catholics are being targeted by thugs 'flexing their muscles'.

But his comments were immediately criticised by DUP Councillor Billy Walker, who accused Mr. McConvey of 'talking through his backside'.

The leader of Sinn Fein on Down District Council said that an incident in which a Catholic man was knocked down by a car when on his way to work last week, was in fact a murder attempt by Loyalists.

"It is time somebody in control of these people brings a bit of order," the Sinn Fein Councillor said.

He blames the Ulster Defence Association for generating what he described as the escalating problem of thuggery and sectarianism in both Killyleagh and neighbouring Shrigley.

Mr. McConvey told the Democrat that a mediation programme could help diffuse tensions not only in the Killyleagh area but in other locations where he believes there is community strife - and he singled out both Ballynahinch and Dundrum as examples. "If there is a problem then dialogue is the way in which it can be resolved.

"My party would be fully supportive of such a move and we will be exploring avenues of establishing some form of mediation network in the District," he said.

However, the Sinn Fein Councillor's overview of the situation in Killyleagh as far as the alleged turf war and escalating sectarian tensions is concerned, has been rubbished by local DUP representative, Billy Walker.

He spoke in uncompromising terms about what he described as an attempt by Sinn Fein to 'stir up trouble in Killyleagh'.

"Eamonn is talking through his backside on this issue and I would advise him to keep his nose out of Killyleagh's affairs.

"His party has no mandate in the town and Mr. McConvey should concentrate on looking after his own patch in Downpatrick," he said.

The Killyleagh DUP man said that Protestants and Catholics live in harmony side by side in the town and he was totally unaware of any problems similar to those identified by Sinn Fein.

"This stuff is absolute nonsense - I have my ear to the ground in Killyleagh and everyone knows I work hard and am on the streets doing my constituency work every day. "Killyleagh does not need a mediation service because we don't have the type of problems suggested by Sinn Fein.

"This is an attempt to stir up trouble by Republicans when no basis exists for what they are suggesting.

"It is the height of nonsense," he said.