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Dale, who was in the park behind Ford’s house to research a story, has denied the mayor’s allegations, saying he was never on the his property and that the mayor threatened him in the encounter. Toronto police said last year there was “no evidence” Dale did anything wrong and did not press charges.

Michael Cooke, editor of the Star, immediately lashed out at the mayor Monday night.

“Just when you think Mayor Ford has said the most stupid thing, such as letting the whole world know about his sex life at home, he tops himself with another outrage,” wrote Cooke in an emailed statement to The Canadian Press.

“Mr. Ford calling reporter Daniel Dale a pedophile tells you all you need to know about our mayor’s brain.”

The Star is having their lawyers take a serious look at the case for defamation. Councillor Doug Ford denied Tuesday morning his brother was insinuating Dale was a pedophile.

Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly told reporters Tuesday that Ford should apologize for the comment, which he said was “almost beyond comment.”

“It fits into a pattern that changes the focus from himself to someone else,” Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly said. “It goes beyond the pale.”

In an email to the National Post, Dale vigorously defended himself against the mayor’s charges.

“The mayor’s comments are categorically false. As I have said consistently since the week of the incident: I took no photos of the mayor’s family, home, or property; I never set foot on his property; I never stood on blocks; I never peered over his fence or jumped to look over the fence,” Dale wrote. “During the investigation, I offered to let the police go through my phone, which had been in their custody since the night of the incident. The lead investigator, Detective Tricia Johnston, did so, and she found no photos whatsoever from that night.