Call for DUP apology for 'misleading electorate' over Sinn Féin talks

A erstwhile Ulster Unionist person has called for the existent DUP person to apologise connected behalf of his enactment aft it emerged that the DUP had concealed meetings with Sinn Féin.

Lord Empey said that, portion Gavin Robinson was excessively young to beryllium progressive himself, his enactment "mislead the electorate".

He said helium had nary issues with the meetings happening, rather the concealed quality of them and the information that they happened astatine a clip erstwhile negotiations with Sinn Féin were against DUP policy.

Officially, the DUP has ever maintained it ne'er sat down with Sinn Féin until Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams met astatine Stormont successful March 2007, soon earlier the parties entered power-sharing.

It comes arsenic the Rev Harold Good, an ex-Methodist Church president, recalled the concealed talks took spot successful his location successful a caller book, In Good Time.

Rev Good said that the meetings were attended by Martin McGuinness and Jeffrey Donaldson. On Tuesday it emerged that East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson was besides successful attendance.

Wilson admitted helium attended concealed meetings with Sinn Féin, but said they were not negotiations.

Lord Empey led the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) for 5 years, but stood down arsenic enactment person successful 2010.

His enactment was publically successful talks with Sinn Féin successful the 1990s, a determination that was criticised by the DUP.

He described the maltreatment that he, David Trimble, and members of his enactment faced arsenic a effect was "significant".

Speaking to the Nolan Show on Tuesday, Empey said: “I person nary contented with Sammy Wilson gathering Sinn Féin".

"The contented I person is with the information that helium is trying to marque a favoritism betwixt talking and scoping issues with Sinn Féin, and negotiating with Sinn Féin.

"It’s the information that his enactment lied," helium added.

Wilson has insisted his enactment does not request to apologise and has denied the enactment was dishonest.

However Empey claimed that the DUP had "effectively deceived the electorate" by "saying 1 happening and doing another".

The DUP "put retired statements and they had an predetermination manifesto which they each stood connected which said that they wouldn't beryllium gathering with members of panic organisations," helium said.

"I anticipation we tin get this each retired successful the open," helium added.

It comes aft the lad of a erstwhile subordinate of the UUP, Roy Garland besides criticised the party.

Richard Garland's columnist begetter Roy engaged with and met Republicans astir 1995 aft the IRA ceasefire.

When a photograph aboriginal appeared successful the insubstantial showing him shaking hands with past Sinn Féin person Gerry Adams a motion was placed astatine the extremity of his thoroughfare calling him a traitor.

Richard Garland told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme threats were made to his fathers beingness from members of proscribed organisations.

"There’s nary menace from talking to anybody successful the sanction of trying to marque bid and that’s what yet the DUP should person been prepared to beryllium honorable about," helium said.

"There's thing shameful, it doesn't marque your unionism immoderate weaker," helium added.