Northern Ireland

Nama: Mick Wallace says source '100% certain' politician was to benefit

Mick Wallace was speaking in the Dáil chamber
Mick Wallace was speaking in the Dáil chamber Mick Wallace was speaking in the Dáil chamber

MICK Wallace has said his source is "100 per cent" certain that a politician was to benefit financially from the north's Nama loan deal.

The independent TD was speaking on the controversial £1.3bn property loan portfolio purchase during questions to Taoiseach Enda Kenny in the Dáil.

He also alleged that a Nama official received a bribe of more than €15,000 to allow a construction company to exit the agency.

The latest allegations follow his claims in the chamber almost two weeks ago that an offshore account with £7m linked to the Nama deal was earmarked for a northern politician.

The sensational claims have prompted an inquiry by the Republic's public accounts committee, Stormont's finance committee, and a criminal probe led by the UK National Crime Agency.

In his latest Dáil appearance Mr Wallace stood by his allegation that money was intended for a politician.

Earlier a solicitor at the centre of the controversy released a statement saying that no politician, nor any relative of any politician, was ever to receive any money from the deal.

Mr Wallace told TDs that Nama has known since January that £7m was placed in an Isle of Man bank account, but failed to inform anyone.

He claimed he knew of a construction company that wanted to exit Nama being asked by its portfolio manager for €15,000 in cash in a bag.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny told Wexford TD Mr Wallace he should inform police and the Oireachtas public accounts committee.

Ceann comhairle Seán Barrett criticised Mr Wallace's use of the Dáil to make his claims, saying it should not be used as a "star chamber".

Nama told RTÉ that it will write to the An Garda Síochána to ask it to investigate Mr Wallace's latest claims.

A spokesman said: "The allegation, if not investigated as a matter of urgency, casts a shadow over all Nama officers and, accordingly, we will ask that the deputy's allegation, including any evidence that he may claim to possess, be investigated as a matter of urgency."

But Nama denied that it was aware of any payment made to an Isle of Man account in January.

The agency has said it first became aware of the offshore account following news reports on the issue.