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Wilson unrepentant over Bain report into "thug" remark

Sammy Wilson at last October's social development committee meeting
Sammy Wilson at last October's social development committee meeting Sammy Wilson at last October's social development committee meeting

SAMMY Wilson has refused to apologise for describing TUV leader Jim Allister as a "thug" during a heated Stormont committee hearing into the Red Sky affair.

The East Antrim MP and MLA has also labelled the assembly's commissioner for standards and privileges Douglas Bain a "wee wimp" – a remark that may land Mr Wilson in further trouble.

A report by Mr Bain into the DUP representative's comments during last October's social development committee hearing found him guilty of breaking Stormont's code of conduct.

Mr Wilson called Mr Allister a "thug" as the committee heard evidence from Stephen Brimstone, who worked as a special adviser to former social development minister Nelson McCausland. A complaint about the remark was made by SDLP committee member Dolores Kelly.

In his report, Mr Bain concluded that "untruthfully describing someone as a thug was an abusive and gratuitous personal comment".

The commissioner said it was an "unreasonable and excessive personal attack" which "contravened the respect principle" of the assembly code.

The assembly will debate a censure motion against Mr Wilson next week. However, the DUP MLA said would not say sorry as it would be a "hypocritical apology".

"I'm not sorry for what I said, as I believe that in the context in which I said it, it was correct," he told the BBC.

"He (Mr Allister) was being used by Sinn Féin to launch attacks on members of my own party in what I believe was an inquiry which was little short of a political witch hunt."

In a subsequent interview with the BBC Mr Wilson called Mr Bain a "wee wimp" and said the commissioner had no remit in saying what was parliamentary language and proper behaviour in the assembly chamber.