THE alleged UDA commander at the centre of a £1.7 million funding controversy has defended his position as CEO of the publicly funded Charter NI.
David 'Dee' Stitt heads up the east Belfast organisation recently awarded the huge windfall from the Social Investment Fund (SIF) to manage an employment project based in the area.
With concerns that the UDA remains involved in criminality and intimidation in north Down questions have been asked about why Charter NI was hand picked to manage such a huge allocation of public money.
Stitt - a convicted robber and alleged Bangor UDA commander - refused calls to appear on the BBC Nolan Live TV show this week.
Instead he released a lengthy statement in which, while not denying being in the UDA, he insisted has used his position to "counsel members of my community to positively influence them in order to avoid involvement in the paramilitary life".
"Charter NI is now the driving force in my life and daily provides me with the opportunity to make a positive contribution to a peaceful and prosperous future for Northern Ireland where paramilitary organisations are firmly in the past", he said.
"Much is being made of my competence to manage an organisation in receipt of significant amounts of public monies because of my background.
"These questions reflect an unwillingness to believe the transformational experience which I have articulated above. They also fail to take into account the reliability, openness and transparency of the management of these monies during my time as CEO of Charter NI and the successful project outcomes which have been achieved," he said.
The loyalist was pictured last month with DUP leader and First Minister Arlene Foster following the announcement of the Charter NI funding. The project aims to get at least 300 people into employment over a three year period at a cost to the public purse of around £5,666 per person.
"For several months allegations have been made about me being the UDA commander for North Down but, to the best of my knowledge, none of these allegations have been supported by evidence being presented to the PSNI.
"My position as CEO brings me into regular contact with senior police officers, both in north Down and east Belfast and I am pleased to confirm that I have never been accused by the authorities of the role which the allegations make against me.
"I suspect that the source of these allegations may be found among those who do not share the same values and vision to which I and my Charter NI colleagues are committed", he added.
