Nama deal: Stormont Finance Committee draws up witness list for inquiry

Northern Ireland Assembly's Finance Committee has begun an inquiry into the Nama sale

Stormont MLAs have met to draw up a list of witnesses to quiz over the Nama loan sale, with one referring to what went on as "a dirty scheme".

The Finance Committee produced a roll-call of individuals and organisations it wants evidence from, potentially beginning as early as next week.

Chief among them is Ian Coulter, former managing partner of law firm, Tughans.

Unknown to the firm, he diverted funds to an Isle of Man bank account to facilitate payments to the deal fixers.

'Letter'

The committee is examining claims, made in the Dáil (Irish Parliament) that £7m had been "reportedly earmarked" for a Northern Ireland politician.

The allegations were made by Independent Dáil member, Mick Wallace, on 2 July.

In a statement, Finance Committee chair Daithí McKay said: "We have already started contacting all of those involved in this transaction to come before the committee.

"That includes NAMA officials, Mick Wallace, Tughans as well as others who may have information on the transactions."

But Irish state broadcaster RTÉ has reported that Mr Wallace is unlikely to accept requests to appear before either the Stormont committee, or before a similar investigation being carried out by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in the Republic of Ireland.

The allegations were made in the Irish parliament on 2 July by independent member Mick Wallace

RTÉ News said it had seen a letter in which Mr Wallace allegedly told the clerk of the PAC committee that his appearance would not serve any purpose.

'Cloud'

The Republic of Ireland's state-controlled National Asset Management Agency (Nama) sold its entire 850-property loan portfolio in Northern Ireland to the New York investment firm Cerberus for more than £1bn.

The sale, completed in April 2014, was the biggest ever property deal in Northern Ireland.

During a public session of the Stormont committee on Tuesday morning, the DUP's Paul Girvan said: "There's enough of a cloud hanging over this place and now to have implications that there's a politician involved in what was a dirty scheme... it's vitally important we move as quickly as possible."

Politicians

The committee said if witnesses choose not to appear it can compel them to attend.

Those it wants to hear from include Nama Northern Ireland advisors Frank Cushnahan and Brian Rowntree.

But Dominic Bradley of the SDLP said some politicians should also appear and be questioned.

"I think it would be remiss of us to call legal personnel and business people and not call politicians," he said.

"There is evidence politicians met with PIMCO and they should be witnesses during our investigations."

Mr Coulter has stayed quiet to the media, others, including all the firms involved, have issued statements denying doing anything improper.

Tughans retrieved the money diverted from its account and Mr Coulter left the practice.