The North Belfast representative was applauded by party colleagues on Tuesdaay morning as he was requested to leave when he refused to withdraw remarks made at an earlier debate on Monday.

Mr McCausland has been suspended for one day for his actions.

Assembly Speaker and party colleague, William Hay, described Mr McCausland's remarks as "unparliamentary".

Refusing to retract his statement, Mr McCausland said: "As Mr Adams keeps calling for truth recovery, I think it's important that we get to the truth on these matters."

During the debate on the continuing search for the bodies of the Disappeared, the DUP man accused Mr Adams of being the Belfast commander of the IRA in the 1970s and setting up special units which killed and disposed of so-called informers.

"Of course Gerry Adams has always sought to distance himself from the whole gruesome episode but the fact is we don't believe him," Mr McCausland said.

"The violence is over and for that we are glad but is it not time for Adams to show some remorse for these crimes, is it not time that he showed some remorse for the evil inflicted on so many families by the organisation he commanded?"

The Sinn Fein president refuted the allegations made against him.