Assembly ombudsman Tom Frawley has ruled that DUP junior minister Ian Paisley jnr did not breach the Assembly's code of conduct with his Hot Press remarks that he was "pretty repulsed" by homosexuality.
The Assembly's committee on procedures and privileges, on a split vote, yesterday decided to accept Mr Frawley's ruling. Unionist members of the committee endorsed his adjudication, while Sinn Féin and the SDLP wanted further clarification, sources said.
Mr Paisley jnr was not in a position to comment as Mr Frawley's report has yet to be released. One DUP source, however, said Mr Paisley would feel "vindicated" and that he "would not be surprised by the ruling allowing him freedom of speech".
Following complaints about Mr Paisley's comments, Mr Frawley was charged to rule on the matter, although it was for the Assembly committee ultimately to decide on whether to accept the ombudsman's findings.
While the matter now appears closed, it is likely that Sinn Féin and the SDLP will again attempt to censure Mr Paisley when Mr Frawley's report is released to the public shortly. Mr Frawley, sources said, found that Mr Paisley had no case to answer.
The controversy arose in May when Hot Press asked the junior minister for his views on same-sex marriages being introduced in the UK. "I am pretty repulsed by gay and lesbianism," Mr Paisley told the magazine. "I think it is wrong. I think that those people harm themselves and - without care about it - harm society . . . I mean, I hate what they do. I think they should just free them[ selves] from being gay," he added.
On homosexuality, he said: "These are people in a country which previously had a very strong family value and moral fibre - and that is slowly but surely being eradicated. I'm not saying that is all the fault of people who've a gay and lesbian outlook, but all of that adds to the problems society goes through."
