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Ben McNulty, who serves as the deputy mayor of Wellington, New Zealand, has issued an apology after referring to a citizen as a “nonce”.
In a statement shared on social media this past Wednesday, McNulty addressed the incident.
“Back in January, I replied to a post from an anonymous user with the term ‘nonce’,” he stated.
“I have since learned that this word carries an unintended meaning and is offensive. I sincerely regret using it and offer my apologies.”
The word “nonce” is a derogatory slang term often used to describe individuals accused or convicted of sexual offenses, particularly those involving minors.
McNulty made the comment during an online exchange with a member of the public.
That comment led to a Code of Conduct complaint against him, the NZ Herald reported, which Wellington mayor Andrew Little has upheld.
This story has been reproduced with permission from Stuff.co.nz.
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