Witness invited back to Stormont committee over 'personal abuse' of TUV MLA

A witness who used abusive language against a Northern Ireland assembly member during a Stormont committee meeting has been invited back to reflect on what she said.

Fidelma Fearon, from Minority Ethnic Support Armagh, could be heard using the offensive remark to describe Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) assembly member Timothy Gaston after completing her evidence to the Executive Committee last week.

Gaston, who was joining the meeting remotely, challenged Fearon over her remarks at the time but the evidence session was brought to an end.

At a meeting of the committee earlier on Wednesday, members were told that a letter of apology has been received from Fearon's employers.

Warning: This story contains offensive language

The committee agreed the language used at the time was unacceptable and fell "below the level of respect to its members".

Gaston said the "personal abuse" directed at him "crossed the line" and added he did not accept the letter of apology as it had not been signed by Fearon.

The heated exchange between Gaston and Fearon happened during a committee meeting on Wednesday, 27 May.

The hearing, on race relations, saw the two clash over their views regarding violence in Ballymena last year.

After the speaker brought the session to a close, Fearon was picked up on her microphone saying: "It's lucky I didn't get stuck into the bastard properly."

Gaston then turned his camera back on to say: "Fidelma, if you want to carry this on - because I can hear every word that you're saying."

Earlier, DUP assembly member Phillip Brett, who also rejected the letter, said people are entitled to different views but "they are not entitled to use swear words to attack democratically elected members of the committee".

Other members of the committee said they did not hear the remarks at the time but have since listened back to the recording.

Sinn Féin assembly member Carál Ní Chuilín said had she heard the remarks she "would have challenged her but I didn't hear the comment".

The committee's chair, Alliance assembly member Paula Bradshaw, said the "abusive language was inappropriate".

The DUP's Phillip Brett proposed inviting Fearon back before the committee to apologise but Ní Chuilín rejected that plan, describing it as "over the top".

However the other committee members then agreed to invite Fearon back to reflect on the comments made.

Ní Chuilín also questioned the "aggression" from some committee members towards witnesses.

"This committee is getting the name of being toxic and why would anyone want to go in front of it" she said

Minority Ethnic Support Armagh declined to comment when contacted.