First minister Arlene Foster pictured today at the opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast.

First Minister Arlene Foster pictured at the opening of the offices of Christopher Stalford MLA in Sandy Row, south Belfast. She is pictured with Nigel Dodds, Christopher Stalford, Paul Givan and Maurice Morrow.

A DUP politician who is renting a constituency office from a group managed by a convicted UDA multiple killer has told the Belfast Telegraph he is "proud" to be renting the unit.

The comments from South Belfast MLA Christopher Stalford follow reports that UDA 'kangaroo courts' have been held in the building. Mr Stalford told the Belfast Telegraph that he was not aware of the claims before yesterday.

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"As far as I am aware BSCR has never been accused of wrongdoing and no-one has ever put that suggestion to me," he said.

"I am proud to be based in Sandy Row and am hopeful that I will be able to make a positive contribution to the area which has been left behind."

Mr Stalford added: "If anyone has anything they want to say they should come forward with information. I have been renting a unit for about two-and-a-half months.

"In terms of what else is going on in the building, anyone that has something to say should put those accusations forward and provide information."

The office was bought by Belfast South Community Resources (BSCR) from Ulster Unionist politician Chris McGimpsey earlier this year. It was funded by a £757,000 grant from the controversial Social Investment Fund (SIF) which has been branded a "paramilitary slush fund" by some politicians.

With an MLA now renting an office from the community group, more public money will be going to BSCR.

Mr Stalford moved into the premises two weeks ago and both the DUP leader and First Minister Arlene Foster and the party's deputy leader Nigel Dodds attended the opening. BSCR is managed by convicted loyalist killer Garnet Busby and ex-UDA prisoner Trevor Greer is counted among the group's staff.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Arlene Foster pictured at the new DUP office in Sandy Row in Belfast Northern Ireland on 16th December 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Arlene Foster pictured opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Arlene Foster pictured opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Arlene Foster pictured opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Arlene Foster pictured opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Arlene Foster pictured opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker Press Belfast 16-12-2016: First minister Arlene Foster says it's been a 'tough old week'. Arlene Foster is pictured today at the opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. First minister has apologises for not putting in cost controls to RHI scheme and hopes to get half of money back after audit. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker Press Belfast 16-12-2016: First minister Arlene Foster says it's been a 'tough old week'. Arlene Foster is pictured today at the opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. First minister has apologises for not putting in cost controls to RHI scheme and hopes to get half of money back after audit. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker Press Belfast 16-12-2016: First minister Arlene Foster says it's been a 'tough old week'. Arlene Foster is pictured today at the opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. First minister has apologises for not putting in cost controls to RHI scheme and hopes to get half of money back after audit. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker Press Belfast 16-12-2016: First minister Arlene Foster says it's been a 'tough old week'. Arlene Foster is pictured today at the opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. First minister has apologises for not putting in cost controls to RHI scheme and hopes to get half of money back after audit. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker Press Belfast 16-12-2016: First minister Arlene Foster says it's been a 'tough old week'. Arlene Foster is pictured today at the opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. First minister has apologises for not putting in cost controls to RHI scheme and hopes to get half of money back after audit. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker Press Belfast 16-12-2016: First minister Arlene Foster says it's been a 'tough old week'. Arlene Foster is pictured today at the opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. First minister has apologises for not putting in cost controls to RHI scheme and hopes to get half of money back after audit. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker Press Belfast 16-12-2016: First minister Arlene Foster says it's been a 'tough old week'. Arlene Foster is pictured today at the opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. First minister has apologises for not putting in cost controls to RHI scheme and hopes to get half of money back after audit. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker Press Belfast 16-12-2016: First minister Arlene Foster says it's been a 'tough old week'. Arlene Foster is pictured today at the opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. First minister has apologises for not putting in cost controls to RHI scheme and hopes to get half of money back after audit. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker Press Belfast 16-12-2016: First minister Arlene Foster says it's been a 'tough old week'. Arlene Foster is pictured today at the opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. First minister has apologises for not putting in cost controls to RHI scheme and hopes to get half of money back after audit. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker Press Belfast 16-12-2016: First minister Arlene Foster says it's been a 'tough old week'. Arlene Foster is pictured today at the opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. First minister has apologises for not putting in cost controls to RHI scheme and hopes to get half of money back after audit. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Arlene Foster pictured on the street at the new DUP office in Sandy Row in Belfast Northern Ireland on 16th December 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Arlene Foster pictured on the street at the new DUP office in Sandy Row in Belfast Northern Ireland on 16th December 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Arlene Foster pictured on the street at the new DUP office in Sandy Row in Belfast Northern Ireland on 16th December 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Arlene Foster pictured on the street at the new DUP office in Sandy Row in Belfast Northern Ireland on 16th December 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Arlene Foster and Emma (Little) Pengelly pictured on the street at the new DUP office in Sandy Row in Belfast Northern Ireland on 16th December 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Arlene Foster , Lee Reynolds and Emma (Little) Pengelly pictured on the street at the new DUP office in Sandy Row in Belfast Northern Ireland on 16th December 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Arlene Foster pictured on the street at the new DUP office in Sandy Row in Belfast Northern Ireland on 16th December 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Arlene Foster pictured on the street at the new DUP office in Sandy Row in Belfast Northern Ireland on 16th December 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Arlene Foster pictured on the street at the new DUP office in Sandy Row in Belfast Northern Ireland on 16th December 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Arlene Foster pictured on the street at the new DUP office in Sandy Row in Belfast Northern Ireland on 16th December 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Arlene Foster pictured on the street at the new DUP office in Sandy Row in Belfast Northern Ireland on 16th December 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Arlene Foster pictured on the street at the new DUP office in Sandy Row in Belfast Northern Ireland on 16th December 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Arlene Foster pictured on the street at the new DUP office in Sandy Row in Belfast Northern Ireland on 16th December 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Arlene Foster , Lee Reynolds and Emma (Little) Pengelly pictured on the street at the new DUP office in Sandy Row in Belfast Northern Ireland on 16th December 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Arlene Foster is pictured at the opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. Picture Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker First minister Arlene Foster says it's been a 'tough old week'. Arlene Foster is pictured today at the opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. Picture Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Pacemaker Press Belfast 16-12-2016: First minister Arlene Foster says it's been a 'tough old week'. Arlene Foster is pictured today at the opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. Picture Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker First minister Arlene Foster says it's been a 'tough old week'. Arlene Foster is pictured today at the opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. Picture Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Arlene Foster is pictured at the opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. Picture Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Arlene Foster is pictured at the opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. Picture Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Arlene Foster opened the office of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. Pictured is Lord Morrow. Picture Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Arlene Foster is pictured at the opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. Picture Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Arlene Foster is pictured at the opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. Picture Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Arlene Foster is pictured at the opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. Picture Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Arlene Foster is pictured at the opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. Picture Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Arlene Foster is pictured at the opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. Picture Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Arlene Foster is pictured at the opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. Picture Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Arlene Foster is pictured at the opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. Picture Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Arlene Foster is pictured at the opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. Picture Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Arlene Foster is pictured at the opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. Picture Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Arlene Foster is pictured at the opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. Picture Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Arlene Foster is pictured at the opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. Picture Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Arlene Foster is pictured at the opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. Picture Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Arlene Foster is pictured at the opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. Picture Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Arlene Foster is pictured at the opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. Picture Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Arlene Foster is pictured at the opening of Christopher Stalford South Belfast Constituency Office on Sandy Row in Belfast. Picture Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Arlene Foster pictured at the new DUP office in Sandy Row in Belfast Northern Ireland on 16th December 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Arlene Foster pictured at the new DUP office in Sandy Row in Belfast Northern Ireland on 16th December 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Arlene Foster pictured at the new DUP office in Sandy Row in Belfast Northern Ireland on 16th December 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Arlene Foster pictured at the new DUP office in Sandy Row in Belfast Northern Ireland on 16th December 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Arlene Foster pictured at the new DUP office in Sandy Row in Belfast Northern Ireland on 16th December 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Arlene Foster pictured at the new DUP office in Sandy Row in Belfast Northern Ireland on 16th December 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Arlene Foster pictured at the new DUP office in Sandy Row in Belfast Northern Ireland on 16th December 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph / Facebook

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Whatsapp Arlene Foster pictured at the new DUP office in Sandy Row in Belfast Northern Ireland on 16th December 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph )

Yesterday, the Sunday Life also reported that the UDA's south Belfast leader Jackie McDonald is a former development officer with the group and that the terror gang uses offices on the top floor of the building to hold 'kangaroo courts'.

Loyalist sources revealed that anyone who falls foul of the UDA is instructed to attend the BSCR-owned building to learn their punishment.

Last year, a Sandy Row woman said she was summoned to 127-145 Sandy Row, known locally as the 'McMichael Centre', on several occasions to meet members of the proscribed organisation.

Paula Dickson-Graham said a member of the terror group falsely accused her daughter of assault and barred her from entering Sandy Row because she had "disrespected the UDA".

Belfast Telegraph