Lord Mayor of Belfast Sinn Féin's Niall Ó Donnghaile has apologised for "any offence caused" by his decision not to present an award to a 15-year-old British Army Cadet.
The row flared after Mr Ó Donnghaile said he declined to hand the prize to the teenage girl at a Duke of Edinburgh Awards ceremony in order to avoid raising sensitivities surrounding Republicans and the British Army.
In a statement this afternoon, he apologised to anyone who has been offended and in particular the young woman involved and her family.
Mr Ó Donnghaile said: "I have never and would never go out of my way to cause offence to anyone. In any society moving out of conflict we all need to be very conscious of how we deal with sensitive issues.
"I accept that my decision not to present an award to a British Army Cadet has caused genuine annoyance.
"I apologise to anyone who has been offended and in particular the young woman involved and her family. That was clearly never my intention."
Unionists earlier stepped up their demands for Mr Ó Donnghaile to apologise or resign for refusing to present the award.
A Facebook campaign against the mayor was said to have attracted 3,000 backers.
Around 200 protesters gathered outside Belfast City Hall this evening to call for the Mayor's resignation.
Democratic Unionist Party MP Sammy Wilson condemned his actions.
Mr Wilson said: "It is an absolute disgrace that a young person should be snubbed in such a public manner as this.
"I am not at all surprised by the reaction. He has touched a raw nerve and caused deep anger."
