The organisers of a female empowerment conference have welcomed an apology from the communities minister after he said the “good-looking” attendees had been seated at the front.

Gordon Lyons was speaking at a leadership event for women in business and sport.

Headline speakers at the event included sports broadcaster Gabby Logan, and Larne Olympian Danielle Hill.

Lyons said he recognised his comments had offended members of the audience and “for that I apologise unreservedly”.

‘Did he really just say that?’

His comments at the Impact Players event prompted groans from the crowd, with one audience member telling BBC News NI, many asked themselves, “did he really just say that?”

First reported in the Belfast Telegraph, Lyons is understood to have said he could not see the back of the hall to see all the guests but said the “good-looking ones” must have been seated at the front.

Organiser Lisa Strutt told BBC Radio Ulster’s Talkback programme: “I’m glad that he’s apologised.”

Read more at: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9q0wd4rzqdo