A Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician was this week ejected from Stormont Parliament after refusing to withdraw remarks accusing Gerry Adams of deliberately withholding information about the bodies of "the disappeared."

On Monday the families of a group of people abducted, killed and secretly buried by the IRA during the Troubles traveled to Stormont to witness a debate on the ongoing attempts to locate their remains.

In 1999 the IRA announced it would help to locate the bodies of 10 people who it had killed and secretly buried after they were suspected of being informers. The victims became known as the disappeared.

Despite extensive and detailed searches, only four bodies have so far been recovered.

During the debate DUP assembly member Nelson McCausland accused Adams of having been in charge of the IRA in Belfast at the time of the killings.

"Of course Gerry Adams has always sought to distance himself from the whole gruesome episode, but the fact is we don't believe him," he said. "The violence is over and for that we are glad, but is it not time for Adams to show some remorse for these crimes, is it not time that he showed some remorse for the evil inflicted on so many families by the organization that he commanded?"

Adams rejected the allegations, stating, "I want to commend and support all the families that have suffered a grievous injustice and who have campaigned with dignity for many years to locate the remains of their loved ones.

"I want to acknowledge once again the grave injustice inflicted on these families and to express my deep regret about this.

"For its part the IRA has apologized for the grief it has caused, it has acknowledged its intention, in working closely with the special forensic investigating team, has been to rectify this injustice and it has accepted full responsibility for its actions.

"I know this is of little consolation for the families involved; they want and they deserve a Christian burial for their loved ones."

When Mr McCausland refused Stormont speaker William Hay's request to withdraw the remarks he was ejected from the chamber.

He was applauded by DUP colleagues as he was removed.