Minister to be referred to standards commissioner following Larne fire
Prior to the fire, Gordon Lyons posted on social media that the leisure centre had been used to accommodate several people following riotous behaviour in the town of Ballymena, which is 30 minutes away.
Matthew O'Toole, the leader of the opposition in the Northern Ireland Assembly, said he would refer the minister to the commissioner.
Mr Lyons said on Wednesday: 'As a local MLA for the area, neither I nor my DUP Council colleagues were made aware or consulted on this decision until late this afternoon.'
He added: 'It has now been confirmed to us by the PSNI and Council that all these individuals are in the care of the Housing Executive and have been moved out of Larne.
'Protesting is of course a legitimate right but violence is not and I would encourage everyone to remain peaceful.'
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons (Liam McBurney/PA)
A fire later broke out at the centre following vandalism at the facility on the third night of disorder in Northern Ireland.
Masked individuals smashed windows at the leisure centre in Co Antrim on Wednesday and set fires outside which spread inside.
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council said the facility had been designated as an emergency rest centre for those in urgent need following disturbances in nearby Ballymena but the families had been safely relocated elsewhere.
Police and firefighters worked to bring the blaze under control on Wednesday night.
Mr Lyons condemned the damage inflicted on Larne Leisure Centre and said it only serves to hurt residents of the town.
Emergency services at the scene (Liam McBurney/PA)
He said: 'The violence and disorder witnessed on our streets over recent nights serves no purpose. Wanton destruction such as the attack on Larne Leisure Centre is an attack on all residents who use the facility.
'There is absolutely no excuse for what has taken place in Larne, and it must be condemned.'
Mr O'Toole, an SDLP MLA, said: 'The actions of the Communities Minister cannot be ignored.
'He is the minister response for the Housing Executive and lives are at stake.'
He said the opposition will refer Mr Lyons to the standards commissioner on Thursday and 'explore all other options for accountability'.
Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole (Liam McBurney/PA)
The fire coincided with a third night of public disorder in Ballymena.
The violence began around Clonavon Terrace on Monday night following an earlier peaceful protest which was organised in support of the family of a girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in the area.
Two teenage boys, who spoke to a court through a Romanian interpreter, have been charged.
The DUP has been contacted for comment.
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