Mr Allister has been criticised by fellow politicians following his refusal to expel or discipline party member Trevor Collins, who has defended his petition by stating: "Torrens was a decent young man."

Knight's early release has been suspended after he was convicted of assaulting two sisters in his home town of Coleraine.

He was sentenced to four months in prison for the assaults earlier this week – but is set to appeal.

Knight, 40, had been released early under the Good Friday Agreement after serving seven years for taking part in the 1993 Greysteel massacre and for killing four workmen in Castlerock earlier that year.

Garvagh businessman and TUV member Mr Collins has already collected 2,000 signatures on the petition to release Knight.

Mr Allister has publicly distanced himself from the petition, saying it has "nothing to do with the party".

Speaking to the BBC yesterday, Mr Allister said he did not support Mr Collins but would not suspend him.

"The TUV is not associated with or involved in promoting the release of Torrens Knight," he said.

"I believe Mr Collins has acted in a misguided fashion and I've made that claim to him.

"But let's keep our feet on the ground here. There are people released from jail who were convicted of crimes in which people died and today they sit in our government."

A spokesman for the party said there were no plans to revoke Mr Collins' membership.

The UUP's Basil McCrea MLA has slammed the TUV response, saying: "Jim Allister can't distance himself from the petition as the party is clearly associated with it.