ACCUSATIONS of ‘bullying’ and ‘unprofessional conduct’ have been made by the Mayor of Ringwood over a race row concerning a fellow councillor.

Ringwood Town Mayor, Cllr Barbara Woodifield made the claims about Cllr Michael Thierry during a recent town council meeting.

It follows a comment Cllr Thierry made in December, where he likened enforcement action to “a n****r in a woodpile.”

He apologised profusely to members immediately after his comment and said it was ‘a slip of the tongue’ but in no way intentional.

However, since then he said he feels ‘let down’ by the mayor, who he says hasn’t spoken to him since the incident.

At a meeting of the full council on Wednesday, the mayor read a statement saying: “It is disappointing to have to relay to my fellow councillors that I had to give a reply to the press following Councillor Thierry’s interview publicly criticising the mayor for her non-support of him following his unfortunate outburst at the last council meeting. “I find this action extremely offensive and unprofessional from a fellow councillor. In my reply to the press I commended Cllr Thierry as a very experienced and respected councillor, but his comment could not be condoned by this council.

“I am at a loss to understand why Councillor Thierry would wish to raise this faux pas again, and would seem only to try to discredit the mayor.

“I feel bullied by his comments to the press, but all I can say is that you cannot defend the in-defendable.

“This woman is not for moving.”

The minutes of the meeting said Cllr Thierry was unable to attend full council as he was visiting a relative who was unwell. Cllr Christine Ford said Cllr Thierry had been upset by the mayor’s comments to the press, which ‘had blown a slip of the tongue, for which he had apologised at the time, out of all proportion’.