The Assembly's speaker has called on MLAs to exercise greater caution in their remarks after a unionist was forced to withdraw comments about a Sinn Féin MLA's alleged involvement in a killing.
The speaker, Lord Alderdice, reprimanded Mr Norman Boyd of the Northern Ireland Unionist Party after he had alleged last week that Sinn Féin's Mr Gerry McHugh had been convicted of killing a Royal Mail worker.
Lord Alderdice said it was not acceptable for MLAs to place other members' lives in danger by making unfounded allegations against them.
"If this is the attempt of any such comment it is a criminal attempt to place the life of another member in any form of danger.
"The inevitable consequence must be to place the accused, in this case utterly wrongly accused, and their family in danger."
Mr Boyd, had refused to withdraw his remarks and consequently had to leave the chamber.
Yesterday he climbed down, saying he withdrew his comments.
Mr McHugh described Mr Boyd's allegation as "untrue, thoughtless and stupid".
He added: "At no time have I ever been charged or convicted with the murder of anyone, let alone a postal worker.
"Mr Boyd's comments were entirely without foundation and his allegations have no connection with any material fact or connection to reality."