05/09/2013
Conal McDevitt Quits Politics
South Belfast MLA Conal McDevittt has said he is to step down from politics with immediate effect.
The SDLP politician resigned after it was revealed he had failed to declare more than £6,000 he earned from a public relations company.
He said he failed in his duty to uphold the standards expected of an MLA.
According to the BBC, it emerged the money was paid to Mr McDevitt by his former company, Weber Shandwick, so that he could mentor the company team that replaced him after he was elected as an MLA.
On Wednesday, McDevitt said: "That should have been declared and it wasn't. That's a serious breach, in my opinion, of the code.
"I have rectified it today, but I entered politics to try to bring about change and positive change, and I feel I have fallen below the standards expected of someone in public life.
"Therefore, I think there's a duty on me to resign my position in public life in order to protect the integrity of the institution and to acknowledge the error that I have made, for which I am obviously deeply sorry."
His statement comes one day after he confirmed that his wife, Joanne Murphy, had received £30,000 in public funds in the last two years, carrying out research for him in his role as a member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board.
Last month, it was revealed that more than £14,000 from Mr McDevitt's assembly office cost allowance was paid to researchers through his wife's firm, JM Consulting.
Former party leader of the SDLP, Mark Durkan said the MLA was right to step down as it was a serious mistake, but that he would be a great loss to the party.
He said: "He is a huge talent, he has paid more than his pound of flesh for his transgressions.
"It was a very high price to pay."
(JP/CD)
The SDLP politician resigned after it was revealed he had failed to declare more than £6,000 he earned from a public relations company.
He said he failed in his duty to uphold the standards expected of an MLA.
According to the BBC, it emerged the money was paid to Mr McDevitt by his former company, Weber Shandwick, so that he could mentor the company team that replaced him after he was elected as an MLA.
On Wednesday, McDevitt said: "That should have been declared and it wasn't. That's a serious breach, in my opinion, of the code.
"I have rectified it today, but I entered politics to try to bring about change and positive change, and I feel I have fallen below the standards expected of someone in public life.
"Therefore, I think there's a duty on me to resign my position in public life in order to protect the integrity of the institution and to acknowledge the error that I have made, for which I am obviously deeply sorry."
His statement comes one day after he confirmed that his wife, Joanne Murphy, had received £30,000 in public funds in the last two years, carrying out research for him in his role as a member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board.
Last month, it was revealed that more than £14,000 from Mr McDevitt's assembly office cost allowance was paid to researchers through his wife's firm, JM Consulting.
Former party leader of the SDLP, Mark Durkan said the MLA was right to step down as it was a serious mistake, but that he would be a great loss to the party.
He said: "He is a huge talent, he has paid more than his pound of flesh for his transgressions.
"It was a very high price to pay."
(JP/CD)
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