Northern Ireland

DUP MP Paul Girvan's office landlord received Covid-19 grant money

DUP MP Paul Girvan. Picture by Niall Carson/PA
DUP MP Paul Girvan. Picture by Niall Carson/PA DUP MP Paul Girvan. Picture by Niall Carson/PA

DUP MP Paul Girvan was the party representative whose constituency office landlord received a payment from Stormont's emergency Covid-19 small business grant scheme.

The Department of Finance confirmed the £10,000 payment was made in respect of the address for Mr Girvan's constituency office in Ballyclare, Co Antrim.

The grant money has not yet been returned by its recipient, the department added.

On Thursday, First Minister Arlene Foster stressed that no DUP member had received the grant, adding that any landlord who did should return the money.

MP and MLA constituency offices were ineligible for the fund.

The Department of Finance confirmed a payment was made in respect of the DUP South Antrim MP's constituency office address in The Square, Ballyclare.

A spokeswoman added that the "recipient of the grant" relating to this address "has not repaid the grant to date".

According to Mr Girvan's expenses records from his time as an MLA, his rent for this office was paid to a company called Cinq Properties Ltd.

The company is registered to an address at Main Street in Dromore, Co Tyrone

A director of the firm did not respond yesterday to requests by the Irish News for a comment.