A senior DUP member could face disciplinary action after shaking hands with a Sinn Féin council chairman.
Mr Thomas Kerrigan, who was elected vice-chairman of Strabane District Council in Co Tyrone, was forced to issue a hurried statement withdrawing his offer to work with Mr Ivan Barr.
In an unprecedented move Mr Kerrigan congratulated the Sinn Féin chairman after taking up his new post and pledged to co-operate with him on local issues.
But a statement later released on behalf of the DUP councillor made it clear it was party policy not to have any contact with Sinn Féin.
Mr Barr said he was not surprised by the handshake as relationships between his party and the DUP on the council had improved considerably in the last four years.
He said: "It is unfortunate that given Cllr Kerrigan has demonstrated a willingness to work in a spirit of co-operation with others in the chamber it would now appear that he has been subjected to pressure from his party to adopt a different attitude."
PA