Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“Tonight the pan-nationalist front of Alliance, the SDLP and Sinn Fein united to keep a multiple murderer in paid post on the Education Authority overseeing the education of our children. They also voted to protect the Old Bailey Bomber’s position on the Policing Board.
“My Bill would have applied to all serious offences. Its rejection means that it is perfectly legal for someone convicted of rape or child abuse to serve in these posts.
“It is a sad commentary on where Northern Ireland is and indeed, in the case of the SDLP and Alliance Party, where some have moved to. In 2013 both parties backed a Bill that used much of the same language after Mary McArdle, the murderer of young Catholic primary school teacher Mary Travers, was appointed as a Special Adviser. Indeed, that very Bill resulted in Paul Kavanagh being removed as a SpAd.
“There is little point in the Justice Minister calling on Unionists to do something to address the lack of confidence in the PSNI within the Unionist community when her party votes to protect Gerry Kelly’s place on the Policing Board!
“There was much talk in today’s debate about reconciliation but as was pointed out reconciliation without remorse is a sham and counts for nothing.
“It is a sad commentary on the state of politics in the Assembly that such an amoral decision could be made.”