Sinn Féin's four Westminster MPs each claimed more than £100,000 in British parliamentary expenses last year despite the fact that they have not taken up their seats, new figures show.
Between them, the Sinn Féin president, Mr Gerry Adams, the party's chief negotiator, Mr Martin McGuinness, the West Tyrone MP, Mr Pat Doherty, and the Fermanagh-South Tyrone MP, Ms Michelle Gildernew, received almost £440,000 in expenses and allowances last year.
Ms Gildernew was highest on the Sinn Féin list taking more than £115,000 in expenses, with Mr Adams receiving more than £109,000, which was £1,000 less than Mr McGuinness's overall claim. The expenses for all of Westminster's 659 MPs were disclosed for the first time yesterday under the UK's freedom of information legislation. They cover allowances such as staff costs, travel and stationery.
Sinn Féin has office accommodation at Westminster, but its MPs refuse to affirm the oath of allegiance to Queen Elizabeth required to take their seats in the House of Commons.
Mr Doherty, who received more than £104,000 in expenses, said: "In line with party policy and Westminster regulations, any monies claimed were used to finance our constituency services and promote the peace process in England.
"Sinn Féin campaigned for many years to be allowed to access facilities at Westminster in line with our substantial electoral mandate.
"These facilities are used to provide a constituency service for our constituents and when our MPs are in Westminster, we obviously also lobby for support for the peace process and Irish unity," he added.
"We maintain a full-time presence in London and our MPs use the facilities available to us at Westminster regularly. The release of these figures is a welcome move towards greater transparency within the political process generally," said Mr Doherty.
The highest Northern Ireland expenses claimant was the DUP MP for Strangford, Ms Iris Robinson. She received more than £139,000, which was £17,000 more than her husband and deputy DUP leader, Mr Peter Robinson.
Second-highest was the DUP MP for North Belfast, Mr Nigel Dodds, who received more than £136,000 in expenses.
The expenses of the DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, were the lowest of Northern Ireland's 18 MPs. He managed on just over £79,000.
