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24 Oct 2025
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24 Oct 2025
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GAA or politics...Justin McNulty in Wexford on Saturday and a picture he posted on x the same morning of Stormont Castle where he is an MLA.
The SDLP leader claims all sorts of compromises were offered to Justin McNulty over his management of Laois GAA but the suspended MLA did not engage properly with the party.
The SDLP's leader Colum Eastwood has spoken about the party's decision to suspend Mr McNulty after they said he defied an instruction to attend the entirety of Stormont's first sitting on Saturday. Instead, the MLA travelled to Wexford to manage Laois to a win in Division for of the Allianz Gaelic football league.
"We have been trying to engage with Justin for months over this," Mr Eastwood told BBC Radio Foyle. "We've offered all sorts of compromises around this and he's yet to engage properly."
Mr Eastwood confirmed to Radio Foyle that the MLA had travelled to Wexford by helicopter.
"This is a decision he made [taking on the Laois role]... announced in the public without proper consultation with the party," Mr Eastwood added.
The party leader said Mr McNulty should "think very carefully" about becoming an independent assembly member.
"That's a party seat; people voted for the SDLP," he added.
Speaking on BBC Good Morning Ulster on Monday, Mr Matthew O'Toole, the SDLP's Assembly Leader said was "vitally important" all MLAs were at Stormont for its entirety on Saturday.
"Our whip had informed everyone that attendance for the entirety of this sitting was mandatory. We weren't informed he was going to leave nor was permission sought. This was a decision we had to make.
"This isn't something we rushed into or took lightly. I don't want anyone to think there's some other agenda here."
Mr McNulty is an MLA for Newy and Armagh. Mr O'Toole referred to a position taken by Armagh-based SDLP founder.
"Seamus Mallon, our former deputy leader, had a saying which is often quoted still… that the number one rule of politics is to be there. And I'm afraid that rule was broken on Saturday.
"Justin has that seat, he was elected to it. So legally he is entitled to hold to that seat and that is his right. But I do hope he can engage with us.. and that we can have a conversation about this going forward, because obviously the people of Newry and Armagh elected an SDLP MLA."
Mr McNulty was appointed Laois manager last October. He was in Wexford Park to lead Laois to a 10-point win. He declined to speak to reporters as normal after the game.
He has yet to comment publicly on the matter. Laois GAA has also remained silent on his dual role. There has been no comment on the use of a helicopter.
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