The DUP has strongly denied suggestions that it is reluctant to blame the hardline Loyalist Volunteer Force for the murder of a GAA official, Mr Gerry Devlin, in north Belfast.
Mr Devlin (36) was shot dead in the car-park at St Enda's GAA club in Glengormley 10 days ago. No organisation has claimed responsibility, but unofficial forensic reports link the weapon used to the LVF, a breakaway group from the UVF which opposes the peace process and the loyalist ceasefire.
The UVF's political wing, the Progressive Unionist Party, said the DUP had blamed the UVF for the killing and called for the PUP to be expelled from all-party talks. A PUP spokesman, Mr Bill Smyth, said he was now challenging the DUP to attribute blame to the LVF.
"Mr Paisley and his son have pointed the finger towards the UVF. These forensic tests prove that their claims that the UVF were responsible were totally unfounded and we would challenge the DUP to come forward and say openly that this was the work of the LVF," he said.
The RUC has not confirmed reports of the forensic results. Mr Ian Paisley jnr said his party was still awaiting a "full and frank statement" from police about the murder.
"Any suggestion that our party has an ambiguous attitude to the LVF or any other paramilitary group is contemptible," he said. "The DUP unequivocally condemns all murders. The PUP, given that it is the political wing of the UVF, has a cheek in making any insinuations about us."
Mr Paisley said the LVF had its origins in the UVF and used UVF guns.
Meanwhile, the Alliance Party yesterday met the RUC Chief Constable, Mr Ronnie Flanagan, to discuss the rise in paramilitary violence, including Mr Devlin's killing, in the east Antrim area. There have also been several loyalist petrol-bomb attacks in the district.
A party councillor, Mr Sean Neeson, described the meeting as "very helpful and constructive". Mr Flanagan had pledged that he would ensure the necessary resources to deal with the problem and that there would be a more visible police presence on the ground.