DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has defended an election candidate who once represented a group linked to loyalist paramilitaries.
Ian McLaughlin, who is standing for the party in West Belfast, had previously been involved with the Ulster Political Research Group (UPRG) - an advisory body connected to the UDA.
Sir Jeffrey said Mr McLaughlin has been a member of the DUP "for some time" and is "not a member of any other political organisation".
