The SDLP has criticised the appointment of Lieut Gen Sir Hew Pike as the new General Officer Commanding in Northern Ireland as "unhelpful". Lieut Gen Pike (55) arrived in Lisburn yesterday - as the Northern Ireland Assembly resumed at Stormont. He was commander of a parachute regiment - 3 Para - which was criticised for not stopping the shooting of former Westminster MP for Mid Ulster Ms Bernadette McAliskey by the UDA in 1981.
Mr Alex Attwood said the "parachute regiment stands discredited and this appointment is discredited as a consequence. The SDLP had long stated that the parachute regiment should not be posted to the North."
Lieut Gen Pike told journalists after the shooting of Ms McAliskey and her husband, Michael, at their home in Co Tyrone, that his men, who were on the scene within seconds and arrested three gunmen, were on "routine patrol" and could not have prevented the attack.
Ms McAliskey has always claimed that the soldiers had her house under surveillance and knew in advance of the UDA's plans to kill her. She also discounted army claims at the time that members of the parachute regiment gave her and her husband medical aid. She said soldiers from another regiment had helped her.
Yesterday she questioned the appointment but said it did not surprise her.