MLA's expenses claim tops £18,000

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A South Belfast DUP MLA has filed travel expenses of more than Â£18,000, it has been revealed.

Mark Robinson's bill was surpassed only by Pat Doherty, a Sinn Fein member for West Tyrone who lives in Donegal.

The expenses for the year 2004/5 cover a period in which the assembly was under suspension. Their total travel bill adds up to about Â£500,000.

The 108 assembly members expenses for the past year, show most earn a salary of almost Â£32,000.

In South Belfast, Mark Robinson's bill is at least seven times higher than those of others in the constituency.

South Belfast assembly members from the Ulster Unionist Party claimed significantly less.

Michael McGimpsey claimed around Â£2,700, Esmond Birnie just under Â£1,000 and Alex Maskey of Sinn Fein about Â£1,200.

The SDLP South Belfast assembly member Carmel Hanna claimed about Â£300 while party colleague Alasdair McDonnell claimed nothing.