A SENIOR loyalist linked to the murder of Pat Finucane has denied being behind a contentious banner targeting the solicitor's son and his campaign for Westminster election.
Jim Spence dismissed the allegations and claimed there was an effort to "contrive a game of 'finger-pointing' within loyalism".
Several loyalist banners have been erected against Sinn Féin's John Finucane, while another targets SDLP MLA Claire Hanna.
Police are examining whether the displays against the Westminster election candidates could constitute a "hate incident or hate crime".
One banner off west Belfast's Shankill Road attacks Mr Finucane and his family, including his father Pat Finucane who was murdered by loyalists in 1989.
Loyalist sources told the Sunday Life that Mr Spence ordered the display of this banner at the corner of Mayo Street.
Speaking to loyalist blogger Jamie Bryson on the Unionist Voice website, Mr Spence denied the claim.
"I am not behind the banners, nor is any one section of loyalism as far as I am aware," he said.
"It was Jamie Bryson being blamed during the week, now it is me. It appears there is a republican-driven agenda to create a bogeyman, or to contrive a game of 'finger-pointing' within loyalism."
Last week Mr Bryson also denied being behind the contentious banners, saying the allegation was "absolute nonsense".
Mr Spence defended the banners and criticised the media, saying that he was "not going to condemn any loyalist that challenges Sinn Féin's attempts to re-write the past".
A senior UDA figure during the Troubles, Mr Spence has previously been accused of having been an informant.
The loyalist was linked to the murder of Pat Finucane by Ken Barrett, a UDA gunman convicted over the killing.
He told detectives that Mr Spence said the killing "had to be done" and was able to have RUC checkpoints removed so loyalist gunmen could travel freely.
Mr Spence told Unionist Voice the allegations were "erroneous" and "laughable".
"I deny all of the allegations, and indeed despite one of the most expensive and extensive criminal investigations in history, I have never been charged with any offence relating to that particular incident," he said.
The row over the banners, which include offensive and false allegations, comes amid tensions over tight election races in two Belfast constituencies.
Mr Finucane is hoping to take the North Belfast seat from DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds, while Ms Hanna is vying to unseat the DUP's Emma Little-Pengelly in South Belfast.
Sinn Féin branded the Unionist Voice article's claim that the media is being 'wheeled out' by the party's press office as "baseless and absolutely ludicrous".
A party spokesman said: "What is uncontestable is that loyalists have been engaged in a campaign of demonisation and vilification against John Finucane and his family over the duration of the current North Belfast election campaign in a desperate effort to assist the DUP.
"The banners erected in loyalist areas over recent weeks attacking the Finucane family are about promoting hatred and division and are an attack on the democratic process."
Sinn Féin said it continues to support the Finucane family's campaign for a "fully independent public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane".
