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Paisley cleared over holiday home | Paisley cleared over holiday home |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Ian Paisley Jnr has been cleared of breaking Assembly rules over his purchase of a holiday home from developer Seymour Sweeney. | Ian Paisley Jnr has been cleared of breaking Assembly rules over his purchase of a holiday home from developer Seymour Sweeney. |
The Stormont Standards Committee probed the transaction after a complaint from Ballymena unionist Lyle Cubitt. | The Stormont Standards Committee probed the transaction after a complaint from Ballymena unionist Lyle Cubitt. |
Mr Cubitt claimed that the DUP MLA had been given a lower price than other buyers for the property. | Mr Cubitt claimed that the DUP MLA had been given a lower price than other buyers for the property. |
He said that this amounted to a "partial gift" and that Mr Paisley had therefore breached Assembly guidelines. | He said that this amounted to a "partial gift" and that Mr Paisley had therefore breached Assembly guidelines. |
However, Stormont Interim Standards Commissioner Tom Frawley told the committee on Monday that the estate agent involved in the development considered Mr Paisley had paid a "fair price" for the holiday home. | However, Stormont Interim Standards Commissioner Tom Frawley told the committee on Monday that the estate agent involved in the development considered Mr Paisley had paid a "fair price" for the holiday home. |
Mr Frawley added that the North Antrim assembly member subsequently had no interest to register in respect of the purchase. | Mr Frawley added that the North Antrim assembly member subsequently had no interest to register in respect of the purchase. |
Mr Paisley said he was "delighted but not surprised" by the ruling which followed an eight-month investigation. | |
"These were malicious, damaging, hurtful, spiteful claims made by a political rival who I beat in a previous election," he said. | |
"Indeed they partly resulted in me having to stand down as a minister in government, as a result of the disproportionate media circus that went around with the claims that were made." | |
Mr Paisley also said he had instructed his solicitor to pursue a "serious defamation" which resulted from the claims. |