DUP member criticises McAleese visits to the North

A DUP assembly member has criticised the number of visits to the North by President Mary McAleese.

Peter Weir says Mrs McAleese has a "disconcerting habit" of treating the North as "an extension of Irish territory".

He says security for her visits has cost £500,000 (€572,138) over the past four years, which is more than the combined cost for receiving all other heads of state who have visited in the same period.