IAN Paisley's wife has claimed there is a "witch hunt" against her husband after he was forced to defend billing a charity almost £6,000 for a first-class return flight to New York.
The DUP North Antrim MP told The Irish News the cost of travelling to a Cooperation Ireland peace conference in New York to mark the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement had been agreed with the charity "in advance".
Other conference participants, including Tánaiste Simon Coveney and former SDLP leader Mark Durkan, flew economy class - at less than a tenth of the cost of Mr Paisley's return flights.
In a post on the News Letter's Facebook page yesterday, the MP's wife Fiona commented in defence of her husband.
Mrs Paisley, who is employed by her husband as a part-time administrative assistant, urged his critics to "lay off the witch hunt and let him get on with his job".
The MP has previously said he travelled "at the last minute" last February because he was only asked to attend "just a couple of days before".
The Irish News, which first revealed details of the flight, reported earlier this week that Mr Paisley had been confirmed as a conference participant a fortnight before the conference.
Mrs Paisley wrote on Facebook that her husband worked harder than MLAs who are continuing to claim their salary during the lengthy impasse at Stormont.
"For goodness sake will you ever lay off the witch hunt and let him get on with his job," she wrote.
"He was asked to attend the conference a few weeks before but he couldn't confirm because of work commitments, they obviously went ahead with advertising him as a speaker.
"He didn't confirm until a few days before.
"Believe me he is doing so much more than any MLA 'not sitting' up at Stormont but continuing to claim their salary!!"
Ian Paisley claimed he attended a US conference 'at the last minute'
Many posters criticised her stance, with one man insisting Mr Paisley should pay the money back.
Mr Paisley's flights, which he said were business-class but The Irish News understands were first-class, cost £5,925.11 and his accommodation was £402.23 – a total of £6,327.34.
The cost was covered by Cooperation Ireland, according to his register of interests.
The DUP has distanced itself from the MP who was suspended from Westminster last year for 30 sitting days after he failed to declare two luxury family holidays to Sri Lanka which were paid for by the country's government.
"Ian Paisley attended this event in a personal capacity and registered the associated costs paid by Cooperation Ireland as required," a spokesman said.
"The party was not involved in making any of these arrangements."
Mrs Paisley previously voiced her support for Ulster Unionist MLA Robbie Butler after he was criticised for attending a civic reception for Pope Francis in Dublin.
"My head is in my hands after reading some of the replies to your post Robbie, each to their own view," she wrote on Facebook in August.
"Always do what you think is right in your heart."
