A DUP councillor has apologised after claiming the coronavirus pandemic was God's judgment for same sex marriage and legalised abortion in Northern Ireland.

The party have distanced themselves from John Carson, who represents Ballymena on Mid and East Antrim Council.

The councillor made the comments on his Facebook page on Wednesday, writing: "I said when abortion was legalised that our nation would be judged by God because of its departure from his word and the legalisation of the murder of the unborn child as well as same-sex marriage.

"I was laughed at and mocked by some but as I said at the time, they laughed at Noah until the rain started.

"You reap what you sow and our nation is now reaping the judgment of God because of an immoral and corrupt Government.

"It is time to repent and turn again to the God of our fathers."

Gay marriage and abortion were both illegal in Northern Ireland until earlier this year. 

The collapse of the Stormont in 2017 gave Westminster the power to change the laws in the Province.

In July 2019, MPs backed amendments which required the government to change abortion laws and extend same-sex marriage to Northern Ireland if devolution was not restored by 21 October 2019.

Northern Irish LGBTI group, The Rainbow Project said it was "disgraceful but not at all surprising that a DUP elected member would try to blame LGBT people and our partners in the women's movement for the coronavirus outbreak, just as they have blamed us for Hurrican Katrina and other natural disasters in the past."

They added: "It is very telling where the priorities of some DUP elected members lie when they seek to blame marginalised people for a global pandemic."

The group asked Arlene Foster for a "strong denunciation of this disgusting slur".

In a tweet, Karen Sethuraman, the Chaplain to the Lord Mayor of Belfast told Carson that the coronavirus was “NOT sent from God” and was “NOT a result of Abortion laws and Same Sex Marriage.”

It was, she said, an opportunity for Carson “to seriously rethink” his theology.

Peter Lynas, UK director of the Evangelical Alliance, said they were unhelpful comments and the media would "go to town" on them.

"The church response is one of compassion, practical needs like food banks, lament, hope and prayer."

Yesterday, the councillor apologised: “Folks yesterday afternoon l put a post on Facebook which was taken by some and totally misinterpreted, anyone who knows me will know that l would not intentionally set out to cause hurt or offence to anyone and if l did then for that l humbly apologise.

“However l will never apologise for my Christian faith and will not be silenced by those that are opposed to the truth of God’s word.”

A DUP spokesperson said: "John Carson is expressing a personal opinion and not that of the party. This is a global pandemic. Our focus is on protecting lives in Northern Ireland."

Carson's post was also "liked" by a Northern Ireland Assembly member, Trevor Clarke.