The chairman of the Belfast-based Sheridan Group of property and entertainment companies, Peter Curistan, has rejected allegations by DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson that his businesses are linked to IRA "dirty money".
Mr Curistan, who is head of the Sheridan Group, which helped create the £100 million Odyssey centre in Belfast, said he was "shocked" and he and his family endangered by the allegations which Mr Robinson made under parliamentary privilege in the House of Commons on Wednesday.
He challenged Mr Robinson to make his claims outside the privilege of Westminster, where he could be sued. He also invited the Mr Robinson to bring his own accountants to inspect the Sheridan Group's accounts for the past 10 years which Mr Curistan said were completely above board.
Mr Robinson said Northern Secretary Peter Hain should "ensure the activities of the Sheridan Group and its association with the IRA's dirty money are fully investigated and will you guarantee that no further public money is channelled in their direction until, if ever, they get a clean bill of health".
Using parliamentary privilege Mr Robinson said: "It has now been revealed that over several years senior IRA figures have accumulated massive wealth. Their finance director, Des Mackin, now owns property worth more than £1.75 million. He has a conviction for IRA membership in the mid-1980s and served as Sinn Féin's treasurer.
"He, along with the Belfast tycoon Peter Curistan, are the two co-directors of numerous companies, seven of which were prosecuted in the District Court in Dublin recently for failing to keep proper accounts," he added.
Mr Robinson continued: "The government, instead of rewarding republicans for criminality, should address the involvement of men such as these in government initiatives. For Curistan is the key private sector investor behind Belfast's flagship £100 million Odyssey centre in my east Belfast constituency. Many of us have been aware of Mr Curistan and his business activities and until recently I believe those people believed that they were legitimate.
"Over recent reports they now, I believe, will consider that is not the case. His Sheridan Group was awarded a massive development contract in June 2005 by the Laganside Corporation which is a public body, for residential provision, offices, a hotel, niche retail, waterfront cafes, and other leisure facilities together with parking."
Mr Curistan appeared on BBC radio and television to reject Mr Robinson's "scandalous allegations". He said the claims put his and his family's life in jeopardy "as well as hurt my business interests substantially".
"He said his lawyer has written to Mr Robinson asking him to inspect the books or to withdraw his allegations. If Mr Robinson did not take this course of action Mr Curistan said he was considering taking "some different forms of legal action against him".
Mr Curistan added, "I have never supported violence. I have never been involved in violence. I was never involved in any political party.
"My reputation has been severely damaged ... In a public domain let him come outside the House of Commons and repeat what he said, and let the courts decide," he added.