Loyalist activist Jamie Bryson has claimed that he did not offer legal advice to the chairman of Donaghadee Football Club who was left personally liable for £32,000 court costs.
The High Court ruled on Tuesday that Michael Robinson must pay the debt owed to the Irish FA after a failed legal challenge against football's regional ruling body for curtailing a season hit by Covid.
The Irish FA has declined to comment on the outcome of the case.
Mr Bryson, the sole director of JWB Consultancy, a Donaghadee-based firm providing services in "public relations, law [and] advocacy", was named in Madam Justice McBride's judgement as a 'McKenzie friend' – a term used to describe an individual who provides assistance in a court hearing but is not a qualified solicitor or barrister.
Mr Bryson addressed the court during the proceedings and it was widely reported that he "legally assisted" Mr Robinson.
Read more: Donaghadee FC chairman to pay IFA £32K over failed challenge
However, in a statement, the prominent loyalist stressed that he "did not represent any party" and that Mr Robinson had previously been advised by "solicitors and counsel", who he said had "drafted relevant material and arguments".
"I offered no advice on the merits or substantive points, and had no involvement either before or after this single one-hour hearing," the statement said.
"Put simply, this High Court case had absolutely nothing to do with me and my involvement essentially resolved to showing the litigant in person the correct courtroom, explaining how the Judge should be addressed and explaining any terms used that was not understood."
He described the term 'legally assisted' as "totally incorrect".
