A former Sinn Fein MLA, Daithí McKay, has today pleaded not guilty to committing misconduct in public office.
McKay, of Loughan Road, Dunnamanagh, appeared before Belfast Crown Court, along with Thomas Gerard O’Hara, of Lisnahunshin Road, Cullybackey.
Both pleaded not guilty to conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office between September 1st and September 24th 2015.
The charge states that Mr McKay, 41, without reasonable excuse or justification committed misconduct by manipulating the presentation of evidence before the Northern Ireland Assembly committee for finance and personnel.
[Originally reported by BBC] Mr McKay also pleaded not guilty to a charge that, being a public office holder, he committed misconduct by directing Jamie Bryson as a witness to the finance and personnel committee on 23 September 2015 and then presiding as chairman of the committee during the hearing and deliberately causing the committee to be misled as to the circumstances in which Mr Bryson would give evidence.
The former MLA for North Antrim was elected in March 2007 and resigned in August 2016.
Before joining the Assembly, he was a councillor on Ballymoney Borough Council.
