Former DUP councillor Charlie Tosh accused DUP group leader on the council Jimmy Spratt of "falsehood" in claiming in a TV interview that the now independent unionist councillor's "strings were being pulled by (Alliance) Councillor Gerry Rice" to force the by-election.

Councillor Tosh, who argued at Monday's meeting of the council that the electorate deserved a say on who replaced Mrs Robinson, said: "I demand that Councillor Spratt withdraw this comment by way of a public apology immediately failing which I will have to consider taking legal action.

"Regardless of party membership I have never been a party hack; I have always been my own man and acted in accordance with my conscience."

However, last night Mr Spratt told the News Letter that he would not be apologising and said it was "quite apparent" that Mr Tosh and the Alliance party had "colluded" to force the by-election.

"What is clear is that Charlie Tosh and Gerry Rice have cost ratepayers of Castlereagh £30,000 for an election which could have been better spent on community facilities or whatever," he said.