27 August 1998 Edition

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`No' Unionists face expulsion

One Ulster Unionist Assembly member has been expelled and three others face disciplinary proceedings by the party for their opposition to the Good Friday document.

Denis Watson, who stood against David Trimble in the Assembly election and was a leader at the Drumcree stand-off as Orange order Grand Master of County Armagh, said of his expulsion ``I was expecting this to happen.'' He added that he had no regrets over his stance.

The three others who were suspended from the party are Castlereagh mayor Jack Beattie, who stood against John Taylor in Strangford, Assembly member Boyd Douglas and Ballymena councillor William Wright.

Reacting to the action Beattie said that, although he would be challenging the ruling on the grounds that he was being unfairly targeted, ``I had a life before the Ulster Unionist party and I will have a life after it.''

Wright said he was ``past caring'' what the party did, adding ``We have been sentenced before we've been tried. As far as I'm concerned I am not really bothered. I am finished with the party.''

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