Thread by @DarranMarshall

Tonight......

DUP MP Ian Paisley faces new questions over trips to the Maldives in a special BBC Spotlight investigation.

Paisley in Paradise : Revisited. 10.35pm on @BBCOneNI

🚨🚨 Tonight #SpotlightNI has new information about Ian Paisley’s trip to the Maldives.

Who paid for it? And were there other trips?

Tune into @lyndseytelford investigation on @BBCOneNI now.

Source tells @BBCSpotlightNI that former Maldives Fisheries Minister Dr Mohammad Shainee was Ian Paisley’s mystery friend

#SpotlightNI

Dr Shainee was chairman of the Maldivian parliament’s all-party talks. His role involved frequently travelling to the UK and Europe – often in connection with the Commonwealth and UN as an envoy of the president

Part of his mandate was building contacts with western politicians

Two completely separate sources tell #SpotlightNI that Dr Shainee was the so-called mystery friend who paid for Ian Paisley’s holiday.

According to the second source Dr Shainee called the resort to request the accommodation and arranged the payment at an “off season” rate.

#SpotlightNI wrote to Dr Shainee setting out a number of allegations, including his alleged links to gangs

He didn’t respond to their specific questions and said the letter was “ridiculous and hilarious”.

#SpotlightNI source has told the programme that Dr Shainee contacted the resort Coco Bodu Hithi to make the Paisley’s booking at a discounted rate and that he also arranged the payment.

Dr Shainee denied this.

#SpotlightNI wrote to Ian Paisley about their latest investigation into his trips.

He did not respond.

#SpotlightNI has uncovered two further trips to the Maldives by Ian Paisley - in April 2014 & January 2016

For an ocean pool villa room, you could pay about £1,180 per room per night

#SpotlightNI evidence shows that the rooms at Kandolhu are marked as ‘complimentary’.

The trip was not registered in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests.

#SpotlightNI asked the DUP about the investigation into Ian Paisley’s trip to the Maldives.

In a statement yesterday, the party said: “Discipline is an internal party matter. We do not give a running commentary. All members are treated fairly and have a right to due process.”

Statement from @SDLPlive North Antrim councillor Eugene Reid - on tonight’s #SpotligjtNI investigation 👇

Sinn Féin MP @gildernewm says the last night’s #SpotlightNI raised serious concerns.

“Previously the DUP said it was carrying out an internal investigation into Ian Paisley’s luxury holidays but six months on there have been no answers, outcome or conclusion.

Sinn Féin statement concludes :

“The DUP and Ian Paisley cannot continue to treat the public like fools”

#SpotlightNI