WEST Tyrone MLA Maolíosa McHugh is not a signatory to the account that received £10,000 meant for struggling businesses, Sinn Féin has said.
This is despite information released by two Stormont departments regarding the ineligible recipients of money under the Small Business Grant Scheme.
The scandal around the failure to promptly repay the money has led to four resignations in the past week, including Senator Elisha McCallion and West Tyrone MLA Catherine Kelly, who quit on Saturday.
In response to questions from The Irish News, Sinn Féin said: "Maolíosa McHugh is not a signatory of the account the Small Business Grant Scheme was paid into, does not have access to the account and had no oversight of it.
"There is no Maolíosa McHugh MLA Strabane Sinn Féin Officer account.
"The money was paid into a West Tyrone Sinn Féin account which Catherine Kelly was a signatory to."
Last week, the Department for the Economy said payments had been made in error to a "current elected representative and one to a former elected representative" and another to "the office of a political party".
Meanwhile, the Department of Finance, which oversees the administrator of the scheme, Land and Property Services, said the payments were made "to the below ratepayer names: Maolíosa McHugh MLA – Strabane Sinn Féin Office; Mrs Elisha McCallion MP; and Lurgan Sinn Féin Office".
It is understood Mr McHugh's solicitor has issued a number of letters to news organisations threatening legal action over claims that he had access to the account.
Meanwhile, DUP MP Carla Lockhart has called on Sinn Féin Upper Bann MLA John O’Dowd to make a statement "explaining the resignation" of the unnamed chair of his constituency association.
She said her constituents were "disgusted" that £30,000 earmarked for struggling businesses was "resting, in error, in bank accounts connected to Sinn Féin for almost seven months".
"There has been drip feed of information from Sinn Féin about the matter as the media stepped closer and closer to the facts," she said.
"Sinn Féin’s frugal approach to transparency and disrespect for the taxpayer has been exposed, yet while the public has many questions Sinn Féin is bunkered in their solicitor’s office sending out legal letters to the media like Christmas cards."
Mrs Lockart said a Sinn Féin official in her constituency had "been the sacrificial lamb" but Mr O'Dowd had remained silent on the issue.
"We know John has aspirations of leadership, so here is a chance for him to show leadership," she said.
"He should step up and address the questions that the people of Upper Bann demand answers to."
