The new Democratic Unionist Party junior minister to replace Ian Paisley junior is expected to be announced in the Assembly today as the DUP and Sinn Féin continue to quarrel over a planned Stormont commemoration to IRA member Maireád Farrell who was killed by the SAS in Gibraltar.
First Minister and DUP leader Ian Paisley is expected to tell Assembly speaker William Hay who will replace his son, after he was forced to resign last week over a controversy surrounding his political and business dealings.
Leading contenders include Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson, Assembly member and former DUP press officer Simon Hamilton, North Down MLA Peter Weir and North Antrim MLA Mervyn Storey. The DUP could also take the opportunity to execute a reshuffle of DUP Ministers.
Meanwhile, a row over a Sinn Féin plan to hold a ceremony on March 7th in the Long Gallery of Parliament Buildings, Stormont commemorating Mairéad Farrell who was shot dead with two IRA colleagues by the SAS in Gibraltar in 1988 continued to sour politics yesterday.
In a tit-for-tat move the DUP's Mr Donaldson said he was planning to submit an application to hold an event in the Long Gallery "to celebrate the role of the SAS in defending law and order during the Troubles".
Dr Paisley formally protested to the Assembly speaker Mr Hay yesterday about Sinn Féin's plan to hold the commemoration as part of events around International Women's Day on March 8th.
"The DUP will oppose any commemoration for murderers in Stormont and will use all of our influence to prevent this event from taking place. I am confident that we are bringing closure to this issue," said Dr Paisley.
He said "events commemorating the lives of dead IRA criminals who were intercepted by the forces of law and order on their way to kill innocent people have no place in Parliament Buildings".
Sinn Féin MLA Jennifer McCann insisted the ceremony should proceed."I would ask unionists to afford the same level of respect to the families of those murdered by the SAS, UDR, RUC and British army to the relatives of those who lost a loved one in the conflict, their loss is the same."
The cross-party Assembly Commission, chaired by Mr Hay discussed the issue yesterday but was unable to devise a way forward.
One proposal being considered is a moratorium on such events. It will meet again on Thursday or Friday.
