Paisley Jnr bows out after media scrutiny

21 Feb 08
Ian Paisley Junior has resigned as a junior minister in the Northern Ireland Executive after weeks of media scrutiny of his personal and political relationships.

22 February 2008

Ian Paisley Junior has resigned as a junior minister in the Northern Ireland Executive after weeks of media scrutiny of his personal and political relationships.

Paisley had been closely questioned over his association with property developer and fellow Democratic Unionist Party member Seymour Sweeney, who sought permission to build a new visitors' centre at the Giant's Causeway and was initially backed by Paisley's DUP ministerial colleagues.

Paisley had said that 'he knew of' Sweeney, but it emerged that he had bought a house from the developer. Paisley was put under further pressure over his lobbying of British ministers about the Giant's Causeway project.

Support faded when it became known that he and his father, the first minister, jointly claimed Assembly expenses of at least £56,000 a year for a shared constituency office.

It is not suggested that the arrangements were either illegal or broke Assembly rules.

Finance Minister and DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson said that Paisley had 'taken the right decision' in resigning.

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