The DUP MP for Mid Ulster, the Rev William McCrea, is threatening legal action over comments about his appearance at a Portadown rally in support of the dissident loyalist, Mr Billy Wright.
The Alliance Party and nationalist politicians have been severely critical of his recent appearance on the platform with Mr Wright, who has been an unequivocal supporter of the UVF in mid Ulster, an organisation responsible for numerous murders.
Mr McCrea defended sharing the platform with Mr Wright, claiming he was there to defend free speech. But now the Mid Ulster MP has said he will make no further comments on it because of his threatened legal cases.
Next week Alliance is planning to seek "indictments" against the DUP at the multi party talks, claiming it is in breach of the Mitchell principles on democracy and non violence. One of the grounds for that indictment is Mr McCrea's appearance at the rally.
Mr McCrea said yesterday: "The Alliance Party are advised that no banners in support of the UVF were displayed on the platform and that if they persist in making such allegations appropriate legal proceedings will be issued against them also."
Mr McCrea added that he will take a libel action against the Sunday World if it does not pay damages and publish an appropriate apology for an article it printed about his appearance in Portadown.
Mr McCrea said he was also taking legal advice about remarks made by a Progressive Unionist Party spokesman, Mr Billy Hutchinson, on Thursday night's UTV programme, Counterpoint.
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/irishtimes/9b24e066-d8f8-4bbe-b3df-50fc163ecf03.png)