Sinn Féin member quits over Nama link

A former Sinn Féin Assembly committee chairman has resigned following allegations he communicated with loyalist Jamie Bryson before he gave explosive evidence about the Nama property deal.

Daithi McKay led a Stormont probe into Northern Ireland’s largest ever property sale. He was accused in the media of getting in touch with Co Down blogger Mr Bryson as he prepared to name former DUP leader Peter Robinson during a finance committee inquiry into the deal.

The then first minister strongly denied that he had sought to benefit in any way from the agreement involving US investors and Nama, the bank used for bad property debts. Sinn Féin Stormont chief whip Caral Ní Chuilin said: “Daithi McKay has resigned as MLA for North Antrim with immediate effect and has been suspended from Sinn Féin.”