Top Issue 1-2024

18 August 2016

Resize: A A A Print

Daithí McKay MLA resignation statement after ‘witness coaching’ claims in NAMA inquiry

Martin McGuinness denies categorically that Sinn Féin knew of actions

● Daithí McKay – resigned

DAITHÍ McKAY has resigned as a Sinn Féin MLA for North Antrim after newspaper claims that he had been involved in ‘coaching’ unionist campaigner Jamie Bryson who was appearing as a witness before a Stormont Finance Committee inquiry into NAMA property sales that McKay was chairing.

Earlier, as news of the allegations began to emerge, deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness emphatically said that Sinn Féin did not have any knowledge of any alleged contact with witnesses appearing before the Assembly’s NAMA inquiry.

After meeting Sinn Féin colleagues at Stormont on Thursday morning, Daithí McKay’s resignation and suspension from Sinn Féin was announced by the party’s Chief Whip, Carál Ní Chuilín, just after midday.

Carál Ní Chuilín said:

“Daithí McKay has resigned as MLA for North Antrim with immediate effect and has been suspended from Sinn Féin.

“His letter of resignation has been submitted to the Speaker’s Office.”

At 2:55pm on Thursday, Daithí McKay issued a personal statement, saying:

Stormont with Carson statue

“Shortly before lunchtime today I forwarded to the Assembly Speaker a letter of resignation from my position as Sinn Féin MLA for North Antrim with immediate effect.

“Having reflected on the allegations against me which have arisen in the last 24 hours, and consulted with associates, friends and family, I acknowledge and accept that my contact with a witness to the Finance & Personnel Committee’s NAMA inquiry in advance of his testimony was inappropriate, ill-advised and wrong. I apologise wholeheartedly for this.

“Whilst I don’t offer this in any way as a justification for my action, I want to be absolutely clear that my intention was not, as alleged, to coach the witness in question with regard to the substance of his testimony but rather ensure that the inquiry had full access to the truth with regard to all the issues relating to the NAMA scandal.

“This scandal was and remains an unresolved matter of wholesale fraud and corruption at the highest level affecting parties across the board. 

“I hope that my own error of judgment on a matter of process will not provide cover or obscure the real and unresolved questions of substance which remain.

“It has been a privilege to represent the constituency of North Antrim for the past nine years. I regret that I will no longer be in a position to do so. I have no further comment to make at this time.”

Earlier, Martin McGuinness said:

“The allegations surrounding North Antrim MLA Daithí McKay are profoundly disturbing.

“If the allegations of inappropriate contact prove to be true, then Daithí McKay needs to seriously consider his position as an MLA.

“I want to state categorically that I had absolutely no knowledge of this exchange or contact.

“And having spoken to all relevant personnel in the Assembly, I am now entirely satisfied that Sinn Féin had no knowledge of any such contact.”

Follow us on Facebook

An Phoblacht on Twitter

An Phoblacht Podcast

An Phoblacht podcast advert2

Uncomfortable Conversations 

uncomfortable Conversations book2

An initiative for dialogue 

for reconciliation 

— — — — — — —

Contributions from key figures in the churches, academia and wider civic society as well as senior republican figures

GUE-NGL Latest Edition ad

An Phoblacht
44 Parnell Sq.
Dublin 1
Ireland