Former prisoners face Stormont ban

Assembly members in the North are today poised to vote through a controversial bill barring ex-prisoners guilty of serious offences from becoming special advisers to Stormont ministers.

The private member’s bill was tabled by Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister after former IRA prisoner Mary McArdle was appointed as adviser to Sinn Féin Culture Minister Caral Ni Chuilin three years ago.