Distretto Nord

Paisley potrebbe perdere il salario da parlamentare

Paisley Jnr could be stripped of MLA salary

Ian Paisley JuniorIAN Paisley Jr could be stripped of his MLA’s salary for refusing to comply with a High Court order to reveal a source, it emerged today.
A judge was told the Billy Wright Inquiry wants a fine imposed on the Democratic Unionist Assembly member for not disclosing the identity of an officer who told him about an alleged file destruction policy within
the Northern Ireland Prison Service.

Mr Paisley, who could yet be jailed for contempt of court, is expected to learn his fate later this month.

The North Antrim representative was served legal papers at Stormont on Wednesday confirming the tribunal’s intention to press for him to be penalised.

He has refused to co-operate with a direction to name the prison officer he says told him about emergency moves to scrap up to 5,600 files after Wright, leader of the Loyalist Volunteer Force, was shot dead inside the Maze jail in December 1997.

The Inquiry examining claims of collusion surrounding the paramilitary chief’s assassination obtained the order against him in April.
But Mr Paisley insists he he cannot break a pledge of confidentiality given to his informant.

During a hearing at the High Court today, which the DUP man was not required to attend, Mr Justice Gillen gave his lawyers seven days to submit any fresh legal arguments.

Joseph Aiken, counsel for Mr Paisley, also confirmed that the Inquiry was seeking to have his client fined.

The court was told a request for a daily financial penalty, together with an order which would allow the MLA’s salary to be docked, had been put forward.

“There are serious issues regarding remedy,” Mr Aiken said. The barrister also questioned why it had taken the Inquiry six weeks to
bring its application to have Mr Paisley penalised.

But David Scoffield, for the tribunal, rejected any suggestion of delay. He said: “The papers were served on his solicitors last week and only served on him yesterday by arrangement to convenience Mr Paisley.”
Mr Justice Gillen warned both sides that if they could not agree a hearing date he would personally fix the case to ensure it takes place before the end of term.

Mr Aiken told the judge: “Mr Paisley has made his position reasonable clear. He has always made the case that it is not possible for him to comply with the order.”

Yesterday, Mr Paisley said: “I can’t give the name of my sources, it would not be the credible thing to do, it would not be the honest thing to do, it would not be the just thing to do.”

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René Querin

Di professione grafico e web designer, sono appassionato di trekking e innamorato dell'Irlanda e della sua storia. Insieme ad Andrea Varacalli ho creato e gestisco Les Enfants Terribles.

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