Justin McNulty has been suspended by the SDLP after he left Stormont early on Saturday to attend his Laois team’s Allianz Football League win over Wexford.

The 2002 Armagh All-Ireland SFC winning full back is an MLA for Newry and Armagh who left the sitting of the Assembly without seeking permission to attend the Division 4 Round 2 clash in Chadwicks Wexford Park which had a 6pm throw-in time.

"All SDLP MLAs were informed by the party's Chief Whip that attendance at [yesterday's] sitting was mandatory for the duration of the Assembly proceedings,” an SDLP statement read.

"This was a historic day that saw the restoration of devolved government, the election of the first nationalist First Minister and Leader of the Opposition. People rightly expect their elected representatives to be there for work.

"We expected all members of our team to be there to support their colleagues.

"Accordingly, as Mr McNulty was not in his place, did not seek the permission for his absence and breached the direct instruction of the whip, the SDLP Chief Whip has suspended the whip with immediate effect."

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