Sinn Féin minister denies knowing of inquiry witness back channel

The North’s finance minister has insisted he knew nothing of a party colleague’s controversial contact with a witness to an inquiry into Northern Ireland’s largest ever property deal.

Máirtín Ó Muilleoir said those seeking to link him to the controversy that forced the resignation of Daithí McKay, the former Sinn Féin chairman of the Assembly’s Finance committee, were indulging in “petty party politicking”.

Mr McKay apologised and quit as an Assembly member last week after private Twitter messages published in the press showed him communicating with loyalist blogger Jamie Bryson ahead of his appearance before the committee’s inquiry into the Nama loans deal.