Ulster Unionist MLA Michael Copeland has expressed his concerns at the criticism made by a judge of the operation of St Matthews Housing Association, which operates in the Short Strand area of Belfast.

The East Belfast Assemblyman, who is also his Party's Social Development spokesperson, said: "The criticisms made by Mr Justice Horner regarding the allocation of housing at the site of the former Mountpottinger Police Station by the St Matthews Housing Association will shock many people.

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"Sadly, it came as no great surprise to me, because I have been approached by a number of people from within the Short Strand community regarding housing issues and they relayed to me a number of concerns which bear out Mr Justice Horner's findings.

"It is a disgrace that the Housing Association was able to bypass a man with 330 points on the waiting list and give a house instead to the nieces of a board member, former Sinn Fein Councillor Joe O'Donnell.

"Once again the Housing Executive and the Department for Social Development have questions to answer as to their role in all of this, in terms of oversight and checks and balances, but it is quite clear that the operation of St Matthews Housing Association fell a long way short of delivering equality of treatment for the local community."

(CD/JP)