Commenting after it emerged that Sinn Fein/IRA will not be refunding the public purse for the more than £19,000 in benefits which were irregularly claimed by Londonderry Councillor Colin Kelly TUV leader Jim Allister said:
“Sinn Fein/IRA’s attitude to this matter is utterly appalling. We have a political party which appears to be retaining thousands of pounds of money which was obtained irregularly and they are refusing to reimburse it to the public purse.
“The huge scale of the benefits wrongly paid to Kelly – almost £20,000 – makes the case even worse. There are many people who innocently can make mistakes when it comes to benefits but I have never encountered a case where the money concerned did not go to the individual who was prosecuted but rather to a political party.
“Sinn Fein/IRA could, without difficulty, repay this money. Accounts published by the Electoral Commission show they are the richest party in the country – and that is without even considering the vast sums amassed by their controlling body, the IRA Army Council, in exploits like the Northern Bank robbery and the ongoing smuggling operations detailed in the Government’s recent report.
“I am shocked that the Department of Social Devolvement – whose DUP Minister Mervyn Storey was clearly involved in the approached adopted in this case as the material obtained under FOI makes clear – was content to adopt such a softly, softly approach in relation to this case.
“I would call upon Minister Storey to urgently revisit this case and ensure that Sinn Fein/IRA repay the money.
“Taxpayers and deserving benefit claimants demand nothing less.”