Prominent NI businessman Gareth Graham to appear before Stormont Nama inquiry

A prominent Northern Ireland businessman, Gareth Graham, who is currently engaged in a legal battle with the American investment fund that acquired Nama's former portfolio in the North, is to give evidence to the Stormont inquiry investigating the sale.

Mr Graham is a member of the family of the late Sean P Graham – the Graham family own one of the largest bookmakers in the North – and is also a well-known property developer in Belfast.

He launched a legal challenge against Cerberus earlier this year when the American company placed two of his property companies – Fernhill Properties NI Ltd and AD Enterprises (NI) Ltd – into administration and attempted to put another two -STH 500 and Lehill Properties into administration.

Mr Graham was granted the right by the High Court in Belfast to use revenue derived from two properties at the centre of the dispute to finance his legal challenge against Cerberus.

On Tuesday the Sinn Féin MLA and finance committee chair Daithí McKay welcomed the decision of the Stormont committee to call Gareth Graham to appear before its inquiry on Thursday.

Mr McKay said: “I have no doubt that Gareth Graham has evidence that will be very worthwhile and of significant use to the committee’s inquiry.

“I think the evidence being put forward before the committee in a public session will be in the public interest.

“I think that the public expect answers and I think there is a good chance that we will see answers to many of the questions that are out there at the moment on Thursday.”

One of the areas the committee may focus on when Mr Graham appears before it is his previous relationship with Nama's former Northern Ireland advisor, Frank Cushnahan.

Mr Cushnahan was previously a director of Fernhill Properties NI Ltd from 2005 to 2008 and AD Enterprises (NI) Ltd from 2007 to 2008.

He was also listed as a director of STH 500 from 2005 to 2008 and Lehill Properties from 2005 to 2008.

Mr Cushnahan was also previously a director of SP Graham from 2004 to 2008.