Sinn Fein MP Chris Hazzard’s ‘disrespect’ to be raised at Wesminster

Mrs Lockhart said the failure of South Down MP Chris Hazzard to respond to correspondence from the standards commissioner at Westminster is a cause for concern.

Following a complaint from the son of an IRA victim – that the naming of Mr Hazzard’s advice centre in Castlewellan after Peter McNulty and Paul Magorrian effectively placed it out of bounds to IRA victims in the constituency – the Independent Parliament Standards Authority (IPSA) wrote to Mr Hazzard in September, seeking an assurance that he was not breaching the regulations governing the use of public money for office facilities.

Last week, an IPSA spokesman said: “We have had no response from the Member of Parliament to date.”

South Down constituent Sammy Heenan, whose father William was murdered by the IRA just a few miles away from Castlewellan in 1985, had accused his MP of “demonstrating disrespect” for the standards watchdog.

“How can we as a society progress if parliamentarians can pay complete disregard to the legitimate sensitivities and hurt of their constituents who bore the brunt of a depraved terrorist campaign? The removal of this name must now be pursued with vigour,” Mr Heenan said.

Upper Bann MP Mrs Lockhart said she has raised the issue with Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, and will also be pursuing the matter with IPSA.

“The actions of Chris Hazzard appear to yet again underscore Sinn Fein’s attitude that rules are only meant for other people,” she said.

“It is not for Chris Hazzard to decide whether or not he will answer legitimate questions from the Commissioner. If Chris Hazzard continues to believe that he is somehow above scrutiny, then this should be taken on board by both the Commissioner and by IPSA.

“The majority of sanctions available to the Commissioner relate to those MPs who turn up and do the job to which they are elected. If it transpires there is a lack of accountability mechanisms in place then it will be incumbent upon the House of Commons to take action and ensure action can be taken, even against absentee MPs like Chris Hazzard.”

IRA victim’s anger at Sinn Fein MP’s ‘disrespect’ for Parliament

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