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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Paisley Jnr resigns as minister | Paisley Jnr resigns as minister |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The DUP's Ian Paisley Jnr has resigned from his position as a junior minister in the Northern Ireland Assembly. | The DUP's Ian Paisley Jnr has resigned from his position as a junior minister in the Northern Ireland Assembly. |
| Mr Paisley, who will stay in the post until a replacement is found, said he would continue in his role as an assembly member for North Antrim. | Mr Paisley, who will stay in the post until a replacement is found, said he would continue in his role as an assembly member for North Antrim. |
| "I can't express strongly enough that I am not going because of some hidden or some revealed wrongdoing," he said. | "I can't express strongly enough that I am not going because of some hidden or some revealed wrongdoing," he said. |
| The move follows criticism over his links to developer Seymour Sweeney and allegations he lobbied on his behalf. | The move follows criticism over his links to developer Seymour Sweeney and allegations he lobbied on his behalf. |
| "The past 10 months have not been without controversy," Mr Paisley said. | "The past 10 months have not been without controversy," Mr Paisley said. |
| Report | Report |
| "Personal criticism, unfounded allegations, innuendo and attacks on me personally, followed by ombudsman's reports that have cleared me. | |
| "The criticism has been a distraction and has got in the way of the activities of this government and importantly it has gotten in the way of the activities of my political party." | "The criticism has been a distraction and has got in the way of the activities of this government and importantly it has gotten in the way of the activities of my political party." |
| Earlier this month, a Stormont ombudsman's investigation ruled that there was no evidence to suggest Mr Paisley had broken assembly rules. | |
| The BBC reported in December on his lobbying over a £50m government land deal in his North Antrim constituency. | The BBC reported in December on his lobbying over a £50m government land deal in his North Antrim constituency. |
| Ian Paisley Jnr was criticised over his relationship Seymour Sweeny | |
| The SDLP's Declan O'Loan had asked the assembly's standards and privileges committee to see if rules were broken. | |
| However, Ombudsman Tom Frawley said it was not a valid complaint as media reports did not constitute evidence. | However, Ombudsman Tom Frawley said it was not a valid complaint as media reports did not constitute evidence. |
| The reports focused on a land deal at Ballee, which involved a number of the junior minister's constituents and property developer Seymour Sweeney. | The reports focused on a land deal at Ballee, which involved a number of the junior minister's constituents and property developer Seymour Sweeney. |
| Sinn Fein North Antrim assembly member Daithi McKay welcomed Mr Paisley's resignation. | Sinn Fein North Antrim assembly member Daithi McKay welcomed Mr Paisley's resignation. |
| "There are still a number of questions that he needs to answer in relation to the Giant's Causeway and other developments," he said. | |
| "Obviously Paisley Jnr has recognised that it is now time to resign from his position as a junior minister." |