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".
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The DUP leader also said he had "no knowledge" of whether Mr McLaughlin had been involved in a West Belfast UPRG account on Twitter which was known for sending trolling and derogatory messages.
Its tweets included referring to Irish people as "paddy", using the word "b***h" when referring to women, and using offensive terms for disabled people and Travellers.
The anonymous account disappeared from Twitter around the time Mr McLaughlin was announced as a DUP candidate for the Court area.
Sir Jeffrey was asked about Mr McLaughlin's candidacy during the DUP's manifesto launch in South Belfast.
The party and Mr McLaughlin remained silent last month when asked about his association with the UPRG, his views on the UDA, and whether he had been involved with the UPRG Twitter account.
Sir Jeffrey said that "all of our candidates go through a selection process".
He said Mr McLaughlin "has been a member of the DUP for some time" and "is not a member of any other political organisation".
The DUP leader added: "I have no knowledge of Ian's involvement in any Twitter account and Ian, I believe, in his area is getting good support.
"We have candidates that reflect, represent and work for the communities they come from. And that is the case for all of our candidates."
Sir Jeffrey said the DUP is "very clear that in all of our dealings, we should always be respectful to others".
He said: "In terms of what people say on Twitter, we all at times I think maybe do and say things that we later regret.
"We are very clear that in all of our dealings, we should always be respectful to others, that we are very strong in our own views, and we also ask that people respect our views as well."
Sir Jeffrey also condemned online threats and harassment faced by some DUP candidates and referenced a candidate who received a death threat.
He added: "All candidates should have the ability to canvass freely, to put their perspective across whether on social media or on the doorsteps in Northern Ireland. That's the kind of society that we want."
Mr McLaughlin was named as a representative of the West Belfast UPRG in a joint unionist statement in 2014 opposing a Parades Commission decision over an Orange Order march in the city.
He was also filmed appearing on public platforms about the parading dispute in which he read statements "on behalf of West Belfast UPRG".
Mr McLaughlin is standing for the DUP in the Court area for the election on May 18 alongside sitting party councillors Frank McCoubrey and Nicola Verner.
DUP North Belfast MLA Brian Kingston congratulated Mr McLaughlin last month as his candidacy was announced, describing him as "long-standing community worker in the Greater Shankill area".
He shared a photo of himself shaking hands with Mr McLaughlin and said: "Best wishes to Ian, Nicola and Frank for the forthcoming elections in Court - they will make a great team for the area."
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