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Mark Simpson and Eimear Flanagan of BBC News NI reported that three men, Jamie Bryson, Daithi McKay, and Thomas O’Hara, have been acquitted of charges related to misconduct in public office. Jamie Bryson, aged 35, from Rosepark, Donaghadee, faced charges of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office in September 2015. Daithi McKay, 43, from Loughan Road, Dunnamanagh, was accused of misconduct in public office. Additionally, former Sinn Féin party worker Thomas O’Hara, from Lisnahunshin Road, Cullybackey, was confronted with a conspiracy charge.
The case centered around a meeting of a Stormont committee a decade ago regarding the National Asset Management Agency (Nama). Jamie Bryson testified at the meeting chaired by Daithi McKay, who was a Sinn Féin member of the Assembly at the time. Bryson’s testimony revolved around alleged wrongdoing in the handling of Northern Ireland property loans by Nama. Despite the judge’s belief that Bryson “lied on oath” during part of his testimony, he found no evidence of criminal conspiracy between Bryson and McKay, leading to their acquittal. Thomas O’Hara, throughout the four-week trial, maintained his innocence.
During the Stormont finance committee meeting on 23rd September 2015, secret messages exchanged between the three defendants were argued to have subverted procedural rules. Although Jamie Bryson admitted sending private messages to McKay and O’Hara, he contended that no laws were broken. Following claims in the Irish News and on the BBC’s Nolan Show that McKay had coached Bryson before the meeting in the past year, McKay resigned from the Assembly in 2016, leading to a subsequent police investigation, charges, and a court case.
In a statement, McKay’s solicitor emphasized the toll the legal proceedings have taken on him, enduring a seven-week trial and a decade living under the cloud of serious criminal allegations. Meanwhile, Bryson expressed his relief at the outcome, acknowledging the stressful and challenging experience of a crown court criminal trial. He criticized the Public Prosecution Service for what he deemed an unwarranted prosecution. O’Hara’s solicitor echoed similar sentiments, highlighting his client’s relief at being vindicated after maintaining his innocence throughout the years of legal proceedings that had a significant impact on him and his family
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