Yellowknife (Oct 02/06) - Following a firestorm of controversy, Premier Joe Handley issued a public apology Friday for comments he made about a sensational sex abuse case dating back several decades.

The apology came after fellow politicians blasted Handley for implying that sexual encounters between students and a former teacher and convicted pedophile may have been consensual.

"I have no excuse," Handley said in a media release. "I am an experienced politician and I should have known better. I deeply regret my remarks and the pain they have caused."

Regular MLAs sought to "distance" themselves from an article in which Handley discussed the lawsuit, filed by dozens of former students who claimed they had been sexually abused by teacher Edward Horne during the 1970s and 1980s.

"The issue of sexual abuse in institutions and by persons who held positions of trust in relation to aboriginal people is one that has had devastating ramifications in the North," read a press release signed by 10 MLAs and released Wednesday.

"As such, the premier should not have made any statements that could be interpreted, to dismiss or discredit the claims of alleged victims."

Sahtu MLA Norman Yakeleya expressed his disappointment to News/North about Handley's comments.

"When a story comes out like this, the premier commenting on a highly sensitive court case doesn't quite sit right with me," said Yakeleya.

"I'm really thinking about the victims in this and what we're doing for their families. (I will) deal with Mr. Handley later on."

In a Sept. 21 Canadian Press story - which ran in several major Canadian newspapers - Handley said the alleged sexual abuse happened outside school and may not be the responsibility of the government.

"We don't know who goes to the teacher's house, if they're not school students, if they're adults, if they're people out of school... It's hard to figure out how we should admit that, 'Yeah, we should've done something," the premier told a Canadian Press reporter.

Seventy three former students have filed a civil lawsuit against the NWT and Nunavut governments claiming Horne sexually abused them between 1971 and 1985 - his years as a teacher in Nunavut, then the part of NWT.

During the same interview, Handley also waded into whether the alleged victims should be considered adults.

"(A) 14-year-old, you're certainly dealing with someone who has not matured and may not understand what he's getting himself into.

"In the case of a 17-year-old, who's been operating as and adult - he's been hunting, he's been earning his own livelihood - (it) is a much different situation," Handley was quoted as saying.

When Handley was asked if he made the controversial comments earlier in the week, the premier said his words were "taken out of context."

"I don't really want to say any more on that. I just didn't like the slant and the tone (of the story) so I'd prefer to leave it as it is. It is a matter before the courts.

"My comments weren't about the specific case and we're taken out of context."

In an interview with News/North the CP reporter who wrote the story, Bob Weber, maintained he had quoted Handley accurately.

In his apology Friday, the premier said he answered Weber's questions "without fully considering the ramifications" of his responses.

"It was not my intention to denigrate or dismiss the suffering of those people who have been abused. I deeply regret my remarks... and ask your forgiveness for my insensitivity and lack of judgement."

A government spokesperson said Handley will not be answering any more questions on the topic.

In 2002, the NWT and Nunavut agreed to an out-of-court $21.5 million settlement filed by a another group of 82 men who claimed Horne had sexually abused them.

In 2000, Horne was sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted on 20 counts of sexual assault.

He is facing 15 more criminal charges and his next court date is scheduled for Oct. 15 in Iqaluit.