Loyalist activist Jamie Bryson has been paid for contributing to the The Nolan Show, documents seen by the Irish News show.
Mr Bryson, who runs a public relations and communications company, has made regular appearances on the BBC NI morning radio show.
The relationship between Stephen Nolan’s show and the activist dates back many years.
Mr Bryson, who denied he was linked to the UVF when questioned by Mr Nolan himself, was paid by the BBC at least once. Mr Nolan described Mr Bryson as a loyalist linked to the East Belfast UVF in a 2021 broadcast.
Mr Bryson was introduced to listeners as “a loyalist linked to the East Belfast UVF”.
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Mr Bryson said: “That is an outrageous way to introduce me on the show….I do not speak for the LCC, I do not speak for the UVF or the UDA nor do I represent their views…I am most certainly not linked to the UVF or any other proscribed organisation.”
Mr Nolan replied: "The BBC is confident in how we are introducing you."
BBC editorial guidelines state any proposal to approach to an organisation (or an individual member of an organisation) designated a "terrorist group” must be referred to director editorial policy and standards.
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Correspondence involving Mr Bryson and Nolan Show representatives reveals he was paid for his involvement with the programme as far back as 2017.
In the correspondence, the north Down loyalist joked he was not paid for an appearance the previous week when he was a guest alongside journalists and members of the NUJ. Mr Bryson was for a time a member of the NUJ.
However, in the exchange on the payment, Mr Bryson made clear: “Although I am still totally political with a political agenda lest anyone think I’m a neutral.”
He later thanked the radio programme for the payment.
Mr Bryson told The Irish News: "This is absolutely none of the Irish News’ business and I can assure you, if I ever were to have been paid, it would be a lot less than is paid to the cadre of the nationalist elite commentariat."
In an exchange during the same period, Mr Bryson asked the programme whether the producers could follow up on a story relating to a football match involving Donaghadee FC, of which he was then manager.
The match against Drumbo FC was marred by ugly scenes, including one of the Donaghadee players suffering a broken leg. The match was abandoned.
Mr Bryson, claiming he was the subject of threats beforehand, told one publication: “There is, in my mind, a tolerance of threats of violence and the undercurrent of sectarianism directed towards clubs from a unionist background within the league.”
In a private exchange requesting The Nolan Show follow up, Mr Bryson stated: “Any chance of giving that a touch? I purposefully threw in that there was sectarianism to light a fuse under it.”
He added: "I threw the big line in alleging sectarianism in local football on badness.”
Asked if Mr Bryson's appearances on The Nolan Show were referred to director editorial policy and standards and if there were any concerns about paying Mr Bryson, a BBC spokesman said: "All BBC programmes are made in accordance with relevant editorial guidelines."
In a statement, Mr Bryson said: "The Irish News - rebranded as An Phoblacht - obsession on behalf of the cabal continues.
"This dovetails with the political campaign being waged by a cabal of nationalists in the media working alongside political actors - such as the SDLP and Sinn Fein - in order to seize control of the public arena and silence any voices nationalism finds disagreeable.
“The Irish News has become supremacist nationalism’s version of the Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda.
“The supremacists in the Irish News and nationalism may not, and plainly do not, like the fact that unionists/loyalists won’t be silenced. I will continue to appear on the Nolan whether you like it or not.
"Your politically and commercially motivated campaign has failed, and the biggest show in the country continues. Learn to realise that unionist/loyalist voices aren’t going away you know.”
Mr Bryson has two convictions, a six-month suspended prison sentence for taking part in unlawful public processions in 2015 and carrying a concealed weapon in 2012.
