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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Judge rules out jail for Paisley | Judge rules out jail for Paisley |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The DUP's Ian Paisley Jr will not be jailed if he refuses to pay a £5,000 fine for contempt of court. | The DUP's Ian Paisley Jr will not be jailed if he refuses to pay a £5,000 fine for contempt of court. |
| The fine followed his refusal to reveal a source to the inquiry investigating the death of Billy Wright in the Maze Prison in 1997. | The fine followed his refusal to reveal a source to the inquiry investigating the death of Billy Wright in the Maze Prison in 1997. |
| A judge said rather than jail him for three months, he would issue a warrant which could see goods or assets seized. | |
| Mr Paisley said he intended to take the three months granted to him by the court to decide his options. | Mr Paisley said he intended to take the three months granted to him by the court to decide his options. |
| He had refused to name the prison officer who told him about moves to scrap up to 5,600 files after the killing of Wright, the leader of the Loyalist Volunteer Force. | He had refused to name the prison officer who told him about moves to scrap up to 5,600 files after the killing of Wright, the leader of the Loyalist Volunteer Force. |
| The inquiry, which is examining claims of collusion surrounding the killing, obtained the order against Mr Paisley Jr in April. | The inquiry, which is examining claims of collusion surrounding the killing, obtained the order against Mr Paisley Jr in April. |
| Mr Paisley, however, insisted he could not break a pledge of confidentiality given to his informant and vowed to "take the name to his grave". | Mr Paisley, however, insisted he could not break a pledge of confidentiality given to his informant and vowed to "take the name to his grave". |
| Criticism | Criticism |
| His counsel, Joseph Aiken, has confirmed legal costs alone will amount to more than £50,000. | His counsel, Joseph Aiken, has confirmed legal costs alone will amount to more than £50,000. |
| Meanwhile, a leading lawyer has hit back after the DUP politician accused him of being "flippant and nasty". | Meanwhile, a leading lawyer has hit back after the DUP politician accused him of being "flippant and nasty". |
| On Tuesday, Mr Paisley strongly criticised the Billy Wright Tribunal's QC, John Larkin, for claiming he "wanted imprisonment". | On Tuesday, Mr Paisley strongly criticised the Billy Wright Tribunal's QC, John Larkin, for claiming he "wanted imprisonment". |
| But on Wednesday, Mr Larkin told the court that counsel always acted on instructions and every client was entitled to the "zealous, independent service" of an advocate. | But on Wednesday, Mr Larkin told the court that counsel always acted on instructions and every client was entitled to the "zealous, independent service" of an advocate. |
| He said that service "should be not be compromised by the popularity or unpopularity of the cause or by blandishments or menaces inside or outside the court". | He said that service "should be not be compromised by the popularity or unpopularity of the cause or by blandishments or menaces inside or outside the court". |
| "That's the basis I have conducted this case on behalf of the inquiry." | "That's the basis I have conducted this case on behalf of the inquiry." |