A CHARITY watchdog is "examining" claims that loyalist blogger Jamie Bryson forged a signature on a community group's annual accounts.
Mr Bryson is employed as a development worker for the West Winds Social and Cultural Institution (WWSCI), a Newtownards-based charity which receives public money through the Housing Executive.
The loyalist denied wrongdoing and claimed the allegations are part of a BBC campaign to discredit him.
Two years ago WWSCI's accounts were signed off by Mr Bryson's friend, independent Bangor pastor Mark Gordon. For 2017/18, accounts totalling £25,000 were verified and signed off using Mr Gordon's name and address.
However, the handwriting used does not appear to resemble Mr Gordon's.
A leading handwriting expert told the BBC the two signatures used to verity the accounts were written by different people.
Graphologist Elaine Quigley said the alleged fake signature matched a sample of Mr Bryson's own handwriting taken from a Parades Commission form.
"Jamie Bryson definitely wrote the Mark Gordon one. It is the same handwriting and the same person. I am absolutely sure," she said.
WWSCI is aimed at raising awareness of the "culture, history and identity" of "those living in and visiting" the estate.
The Housing Executive grant-aided WWSCI with an average of £14,000 a year for the past three years under its Special Pockets of Deprivation scheme.
As a registered charity, WWSCI submits annual accounts to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.
According to the commission, it is an offence "to knowingly or recklessly supply the commission with information which is false or misleading".
The Charity Commission declined to confirm whether it is investigating WWSCI as it "would not wish to prejudice any current or potential investigation".
However, a letter was sent to the commission by a public representative who raised the issue, and the watchdog replied saying it "already has an open enquiry file in connection with this charity".
"We are examining a number of issues, including that which you have brought to our attention," the letter added.
Mr Bryson did not answer a direct question about the signature, but told the BBC the allegations were "part of an ongoing smear campaign" by some in the corporation "to have me blacklisted and de-platformed".
"Should the police want to speak to me about any matter, including these allegations that the BBC are putting forward, then they should refer that to the PSNI and I will happily meet with the PSNI," he said.
In a lengthy further statement issued yesterday, Mr Bryson said: "For the avoidance of all doubt I robustly deny any wrongdoing whatsoever, either criminal or otherwise."
In a statement, Mr Gordon said he independently examined the WWSCI accounts for 2016/17 and 2017/18 and "found them to give a true and fair view of all transactions".
"I can categorically state that I believe Mr Bryson has not done anything wrong and I will be happy to meet with the PSNI and/or Charity Commission to answer any questions they might have," he added.
