BBC not commenting after Jim Wells announces plans to sue Stephen Nolan

Presenter Stephen Nolan could appear in court after the former health minister issued a defamation writ which names both Mr Nolan and the BBC itself.

It stems from comments Mr Wells had made about raising children at a hustings event in April last year.

The remarks had been interpreted by some as suggesting gay couples are more likely to abuse children.

Mr Wells strongly denies this, and has said that once his comments are considered in full it is very clear that is not what he said.

He confirmed he is planning to issue five writs in all, but not all had been served.

Last night a BBC spokesman said: “We have no comment to make at this stage.”

Mr Wells said that the court case earlier this week – where Dorothy Gardner, 48, of Killycanavan Road, Dungannon pleaded guilty to wasting police time by making false statements about the hustings event at which Mr Wells spoke – “emboldens us” about pursuing the civil cases.

Mr Wells told the News Letter he “will stop at nothing to clear this stain on my character”.