Northern Ireland’s former Justice Minister David Ford has denied that political interference from the DUP prevented him easing the use of strip-searches in NI prisons.

Trade unionist Peter Bunting told a parliamentary committee in Dublin that Mr Ford “was probably beholden to the likes of the DUP for his position as minister for justice and I think that probably resulted in him lacking the resolve to tackle this matter head-on”.

However, Mr Ford told the Press Association: “I utterly refute any suggestion I was beholden to the DUP.

“I certainly had DUP and Sinn Féin support to be elected minister but I made it absolutely clear I was acting on an Alliance agenda, which they accepted before they voted for me.”

According to Mr Ford, the prisoner deal reached six years ago - which included promises to ease the use of controversial strip-searches - also included an agreement for threats to prison officers to stop.

However, Mr Ford said threats continued on social media thereafter and two prison officers have been killed since 2010.