DUP's Brenda Hale wants to be on the Armed Forces CRG but claims Sinn Fein are blocking it

The DUP MLA Brenda Hale, whose husband Captain Mark Hale died in Afghanistan in 2009, has told BBC Talkback that the First Minister has backed her being appointed to sit on the group which provides government funding to military charities. At present, Northern Ireland is not represented on the Armed Forces Covenant Reference Group - as any representative would need cross party support - something which Mrs Hale claims Sinn Fein is blocking