‘I had no agreement with Daithí McKay': Jamie Bryson takes the stand as defence case begins in Nama trial
Loyalist activist Jamie Bryson has told a court he 'absolutely, emphatically' had no agreement with former Sinn Féin MLA Daithí McKay over his appearance at a Stormont committee that sparked the so-called Nama trial.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
'Discrimination' concerns over Stormont constituency jobs
Dozens of Northern Ireland Assembly members are recruiting staff in a way that could risk claims of unlawful discrimination, a BBC News NI investigation has include First Minister Michelle O'Neill, as the "essential criteria" for some jobs in her constituency office suggested applicants should hold certain political guidance issued to members of the legislative assembly (MLAs) says they should give "equality of opportunity to all candidates irrespective of... political opinion". The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland said that, while there are "exceptions" in employment law, the job ads could be "open to a claim for unlawful discrimination". An assembly spokesman said MLAs are given "advice on best practice" and "it is for each MLA to appoint employees on merit after a fair and open competition".Sinn Féín said staff are employed by MLAs to "pursue their priorities for constituency and assembly business", and "these priorities may legitimately be influenced by their own political perspective".MLAs claimed more than £8m in expenses in 2023-24 for constituency office staffing costs including job ads and criteria for almost 300 constituency office posts were examined by BBC News documents for many of them stated that applications were welcomed from "all backgrounds" regardless of "political opinion". Some said candidates should have an "understanding of" the objectives or values of the MLA's political others suggested applicants must hold those political of those jobs were with Sinn Féin the "essential criteria", they said candidates should have a "strong" or "proven commitment to Sinn Féin's values".This included posts with Michelle O'Neill, the party's deputy jobs with MLAs for the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) had similar wording. Caseworker jobs in former UUP leader Doug Beattie's office said candidates needed a "strong commitment" to the party's jobs for Cara Hunter also said candidates should have a "strong commitment to SDLP principles and values".Belfast-based employment solicitor Cormac Rice expressed concern over job vacancies being "contingent upon a predisposition towards a specific political persuasion".He said it "may undermine equality of opportunity and the need to ensure that the best candidate is appointed". Stormont's "best practice guidance" issued to MLAs for recruitment of their office staff advises that "equality of opportunity is integral".It said recruitment should be "solely on the basis of merit" and provide "equality of opportunity to all candidates", irrespective of protected characteristics including gender, religion and "political opinion".The Equality Commission said all employers must "operate within our equality laws"."Any employer who states or implies in a job advertisement that an applicant must hold, or not hold, a particular political opinion to be eligible for the role, may leave themselves open to a claim for unlawful discrimination," a spokeswoman she said the Fair Employment and Treatment (NI) Order 1998 "includes an exception in relation to political opinion" where the "essential nature of a job requires it"."We advise employers to contact us for advice before publishing job advertisements that rely on this exception," she added. A Sinn Féin spokesman said: "Every MLA is resourced to employ staff to support them to serve their constituents and pursue their priorities for constituency and assembly business."These priorities may legitimately be influenced by their own political perspective."MLAs can seek HR support from the institution to ensure fair and consistent recruitment processes that promotes equal opportunities." An assembly spokesman said MLAs employ staff to support their work."This is distinct from support that may be provided centrally by their political party," he added."Guidance published to MLAs by the Assembly Commission provides advice on best practice in recruitment, including the need to ensure that no unlawful discrimination occurs when making employment decisions."Taking this guidance into account, it is for each MLA to appoint employees on merit after a fair and open competition."The UUP was approached for SDLP said it "remains committed to ensuring a fair and transparent process for all job applicants and appointments are made solely on merit"."We are confident we have upheld these principles throughout," a party spokesman added. 'Social media officers' The recruitment documents were obtained through Freedom of Information also give an insight into who is being recruited by MLAs, and the kinds of jobs being of the 90 MLAs have declared employing family than 60% of the staff recruited since May 2022 were members of their MLA employer's political of the jobs advertised have titles such as constituency caseworker, manager or policy 50 had "communications" in their title, while a further 19 were "social media officers".Pat McCartan, a former member of an independent Stormont panel which set rules on MLA expenses, expressed concern about some of the job titles."It's very far removed from assisting people with their constituency enquiries," he said."They're not paid to be extra party workers."Mr McCartan said there was a need for a "serious audit of the financial arrangements".An assembly spokesman said MLAs employ staff for "a range of roles such as casework, research and communications"."This is distinct from support that may be provided centrally by their political party," he said staff support MLAs "to serve their constituents and pursue their priorities for constituency and assembly business"."Those specific priorities will differ for each member and may be naturally influenced by their political perspective."
Belfast Telegraph
7 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Shane Ross: Why the prospect of a Gerry Adams presidency divides Sinn Féin
The idea of him running for Irish president is intriguing for some Sinn Féin has a big Gerry Adams problem. You see, Gerry never really retired. He took a back seat in 2018 and allowed Mary Lou McDonald to front the party — but he has been constantly visible over the intervening seven years.
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Sinn Féin calls for vacant council houses to be made available within 12 weeks
Sinn Féin has called for local authorities to be given powers that would see council homes made available to move into within 12 weeks of becoming vacant. New figures show that at least one in every four boarded up council home has been empty for longer than 12 months. Advertisement The figures released to Sinn Féin's Thomas Gould show that 38 per cent of those vacant longer than 12 months have been empty for more than two years. Over 750 council homes across the state have been boarded up for over a year. This is shameful. We must fight back together against FF & FG, demand investment in our communities, and ensure everyone has a safe, secure & affordable place to call home. — Sinn Féin (@sinnfeinireland) June 6, 2025 There are currently more than 750 council homes across Ireland which have been boarded up for more than a year. Mr Gould, the party's spokesman on Urban Regeneration and Renewal, Planning, Public Realm and Local Government, said there are thousands of homes that have been boarded up for three to four years, with some homes lying empty for eight years. Limerick, Wicklow, Tipperary and Louth have council homes boarded up for the longest time periods, while Donegal, Cork City and Limerick have the highest levels of vacant stock. Advertisement Mr Gould said the average re-letting times vary across the state. 'Why are local authorities boarding up houses? When a family moves out, (and) if that house is (in) a decent condition, let's put a family straight in. Let's not board it up. Let's put people in there. 'Instead, it's being boarded up, waiting for the Department of Housing to give money in 12 months' time, and then taking another six months for procurement to do it up. 'We want to get every house returned within 12 weeks. We think 12 gives time for local authorities to repair the house and get them out again. Advertisement 'Local authorities are only getting 11,000 euros for each unit to be turned around, when the average cost last year was 28,000.' He added: 'This is a scandal when we're in the middle of the worst housing crisis in the history of the state, and what we are trying to do is bring forward solutions. 'This in itself won't solve the housing crisis, but what it would do, is could release thousands of homes that would help to house people who are homeless, but also take people out of the rental market. 'So this will have a domino positive effect from homeless services to social housing to rent. Advertisement '(We) want local authorities, rather than waiting for the department to give sanctions, that local authorities would be able to work returning homes all year long, and not just waiting for once or twice a year for the government to give sanctions.' He called for Fianna Fail and Fine Gael to bring in a 'proper procedure' to address long-term vacant homes. Mr Gould said boarded-up houses have 'devastating effects' on communities. 'Families are coming out every day and looking at them, they're magnets for anti social-behaviour, the magnets for dumping,' he added. Advertisement Ireland Department of Foreign Affairs spent almost €1.4m o... Read More 'They just drag down the whole environment of really good communities, and it's about time now the Government stepped up. 'We are bringing forward a solution. We hope the Government will take it on board, because we think it makes sense.' The Department of Housing has been contacted for comment.
