“Words matter. Language is important.” It’s worth noting the two phrases employed by the DUP MP for Upper Bann, Carla Lockhart, whilst castigating the rap band Kneecap during a BBC radio interview last week.

The context for her comments, of course, was the recently unearthed video footage from a couple of the band’s concerts stretching back to 18 months ago. One piece of footage captured a band member making an inappropriate and crass quip about dead Tories and killing MPs, while a second video included comments made about Hezbollah and Hamas.

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It was appropriate for Kneecap to address the Amess and Cox families directly to apologise given how there was an immediate media focus on the killings of the Conservative and Labour MPs, though of course there was absolutely nothing said or inferred by the band member to imply they were approving of those specific dreadful acts.

The lengthy statement they released was remorseful and showed a degree of maturity and sincerity often lacking in a political class which includes many who enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to lay into the band.

Noel Doran: I often think about the dead on the 4.55 from Ballymena, and how easily I might have joined them