Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly carried by PSNI landrover during Tour of the North parade

TUV leader Jim Allister has made a formal complaint to the Assembly’s Commissioner for Standards following an incident involving Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly and a PSNI land rover during Friday night’s Tour of the North parade in Belfast.

And Mr Allister said he will also be raising the issues with the PSNI.

The DUP has already said that Gerry Kelly should face criminal charges while Caral Ni Chuilin should be investigated by the Stormont Assembly.

The Police Ombudsman is investigating after Sinn Fein claimed a police land rover struck Culture Minister Caral Ni Chuilin at Carrick Hill.

She was taken to hospital and treated for ligament damage and later discharged.

North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly was carried on the front of a police land rover as he tried to talk to the PSNI over the arrest of a youth for riotous behaviour.

The incident has sparked calls for the Policing Board member to be charged with obstructing a police vehicle.

However, Sinn Fein is to seek an urgent meeting with Chief Constable Matt Baggott over the conduct of PSNI officers on duty at Carrick Hill.

In his letter on Monday morning to the Assembly Commissioner for Standards Douglas Bain, the TUV leader wrote:

“Dear Mr Bain,

“I write to make a formal complaint against Gerry Kelly MLA following his conduct on Friday 21st June at the Tour of the North Parade.

TUV leader Jim Allister accuses wants Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly investigated by Assembly Commissioner for Standards

“Mr Kelly can be clearly seen both in still photographs and in a video posted online by Sinn Fein obstructing police officers in the course of their duty.

“The video can be viewed here https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8K2juHYzDKs.

“I have also enclosed copies of still photographs.

“The Code of Conduct clearly states:

Public Duty

“Members have a duty to uphold the law and to act on all occasions in accordance with the public trust placed in them.

“The Code also states:

Leadership

“Members should promote and support these principles by leadership and example in order to establish and maintain the trust and confidence of the people of Northern Ireland, and to ensure the integrity of the Assembly and its Members in conducting business.

Finally the code states:

Promoting Good Relations

“Members will act in a way that is conducive to promoting good relations by providing a positive example for the wider community to follow by acting justly and promoting a culture of respect for the law.

“It is patiently obvious that Mr Kelly obstructed a police officer in the course of his duty and has therefore breached the Code. Mr Kelly’s “leadership and example” falls well short of the expectations of the Code and certainly did not provide a positive example for the wider community.

“Accordingly, I ask you investigate.

“Yours sincerely,

“James H Allister QC MLA.”