A high-ranking member of the British Labour Party has apologised for the first time for remarks he made about the IRA 12 years ago.
John McDonnell, the newly-appointed shadow chancellor of the exchequer, suggested in 2003 that members of the IRA should be honoured for having taken part in the armed struggle.
In answer to a question on BBC television last night, Mr McDonnell said his remarks had been an attempt to get republican paramilitaries to join the peace process.
But he accepted that he had chosen his words poorly.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said Mr McDonnell should be "ashamed" of the comments when the issue was raised during Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's first session of Prime Minister's Questions as opposition leader.
The row follows Mr McDonnell's remarks in 2003 that "the bombs and bullets and sacrifice" of the IRA had brought Britain to the negotiating table.
Last night he apologised "from the bottom of my heart" for the offence caused.
The senior Labour MP, appointed by Mr Corbyn to lead the party's economic policy, said it had been a "mistake" to use the words and accepted he had "clearly" caused offence.
Challenged about the comments on BBC1's Question Time, Mr McDonnell said: "I accept it was a mistake to use those words, but actually if it contributed towards saving one life, or preventing someone else being maimed, it was worth doing because we did hold onto the peace process.
"There was a real risk of the republican movement splitting, and some continuing with the armed process. If I gave offence, and I clearly have, from the bottom of my heart I apologise."
In 2003 Mr McDonnell told a meeting in London: "It's about time we started honouring those people involved in the armed struggle.
"It was the bombs and bullets and sacrifice made by the likes of (hunger striker) Bobby Sands that brought Britain to the negotiating table.
"The peace we have now is due to the action of the IRA."
During the show last night Mr McDonnell, who had also described the presence of British troops in Northern Ireland as an "occupation", said he had to talk to republicans on their terms.
The shadow chancellor insisted "I reject political violence" and added: "I had to use the language that republicans understood so we could secure the path to peace.
"There were risks but it was worth taking because now people are not dying on the streets of Northern Ireland."
Following Mr McDonnell's apology Nigel Dodds, the DUP's leader at Westminster, said it is crucial that his apology is a meaningful one, adding that he should not try to justify his words.
"John McDonnell's attempt to address this issue is welcome and long overdue," said Mr Dodds.
"This should not have been dragged out of him by entirely justified public outrage only once these appalling remarks were brought to general attention."
The shadow chancellor used his Question Time appearance to also apologise for an "appalling joke" in 2010 about wanting to assassinate Margaret Thatcher.
"It was an appalling joke. It's ended my career in stand-up, let's put it that way, and I apologise for it as well."
