SF Covid fund debacle: Claim of a behind-the-scenes ‘war’ over release of information

The money was paid to three offices of the party in error Sinn Fein said, and had been paid back (but it emerged that it was only paid back this Tuesday).

But Mr Nolan said there had been a “war” raging behind the scenes, with some people opposed to releasing information on the matter.

Mr Nolan said his programme had come across the story courtesy of a “senior Stormont source”.

SEE MAIN STORY HERE: Sinn Fein repaid £30K Covid support mispayment on Tuesday ... just ahead of major expose on Wednesday

He indicated to listeners yesterday that some people “have been battling for days to stop the Nolan programme, and therefore you the public, finding out details around three bundles of £10,000 small business grants that were received by the party”.

He added: “We can reveal to all of you there was a war behind the scenes at Stormont this week, where we’re told Diane Dodds the economy minister wanted the public to be told ...

“We’ve been told the Department of Finance refused to let the statement – with meaningful detailed answers – be released to you the public.”

The News Letter put this to the Department of Finance (controlled by Sinn Fein’s Conor Murphy), noting that The Nolan Show had implied pressure was exerted on ministers, civil servants, or both to try and hamper the release of information about the scheme.

A spokeswoman got in touch to say the News Letter should be directing its queries to Sinn Fein.

This was put to the party, but the only response received was: “Three Sinn Fein offices received automatic and unsolicited payments of £10,000 under the Small Business Grant Scheme.

“Sinn Féin offices did not qualify and did not apply for the scheme and the monies have been returned to the LPS.”

The Executive Office was also asked about whether Sinn Fein had attempted to exert pressure to thwart the release of details about the £30,000 payments, but it also referred the News Letter to other wings of the Executive – the Department for the Economy, and the Department of Finance.

The £10,000 grant scheme was designed to be given to firms which were small enough that they qualified for existing rates relief.

Small business rates relief is automatically applied to business properties with a value of below £15,000 (the firm must only have a maximum of three properties to qualify as well).

However, DUP MLA Gary Middleton said the system of property ratings upon which falls under the control of the LPS (Land and Property Services), under the general umbrella of Conor Murphy’s finance department, and therefore it was up to him to “explain exactly what went wrong with the roll out”.

He also questioned efforts to “deflect blame by citing problems with the system used to return unnecessary payments” – indicating that this returns system too was something he believed Mr Murphy was responsible for.

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