Sinn Féin MP John Finucane has said reports that the UDA attempted to influence the DUP leadership contest, if true, are deeply disturbing.
The North Belfast MP said:
“Reports that the UDA were involved in threats and intimidation against supporters of Jeffrey Donaldson during the DUP leadership contest are deeply disturbing.
“If true, this is a very worrying development that an armed, illegal organisation was involved in influencing the outcome of the leadership contest of the largest party in unionism and a party of government.
“It represents an attempt to subvert the democratic process and that is totally unacceptable.
“Armed groups have no place in society and certainly not in the business of government.
“The PSNI needs to investigate these reports to find out whether they are accurate and establish exactly what happened and the DUP has a responsibility to fully co-operate with that investigation.”
