News

TUV defends election agent over criminal record

THE TUV has defended an election agent with a conviction for using an imitation firearm at a loyalist roadblock, describing the incident "a foolish escapade".

The Irish News revealed on Saturday that Gary McDonald, the election agent for the party's Mid-Ulster candidate Gareth Ferguson, spent a year in jail for his role in the incident involving masked men in Portglenone, Co Antrim in July 2003.

Stephen Maternaghan, Gary

McDonald and his brother John, all of Innishrush Road in the village, admitted using a deactivated AK47 assault rife to stop motorists.

Neither Gareth Ferguson nor the TUV responded to requests from The Irish News for comment when contacted on Friday.

However a party spokesman told The News Letter yesterday that Mr Mc-Donald had "paid his debt to society".

"Mr McDonald, long before he was associated with TUV, or TUV even existed, had a criminal conviction arising from a wrong and foolish escapade associated with the guarding of a previously attacked Orange arch. Mr McDonald was just 19 or 20 at the time. The weapon involved was a fully deactivated rifle, which was lawfully held on licence by Mr McDonald but, clearly, used in an unlawful fashion on the occasion in question."

He added: "He paid his debt to society and has gone on to lead a responsible and industrious life. TUV does not in any way condone criminality. But also we do not deny an individual the right to learn from their mistakes and go on to become a responsible citizen."

Thomas O'Hara jnr, who was stopped along with his father at the checkpoint, said that what had happened was "still raw".

He said: "I think it's a downright dis-grace that the TUV say they are standing up for victims. But it seems that if you're Catholic you don't matter."

Sinn Féin election candidate for North Antrim, Daithi McKay, tweeted that the TUV defence of Mr McDonald "shows rank hypocrisy of Jim Allister and Spad (Special Advisers) Bill."