Peter Robinson faced Stormont committee over the £1.2 billion Nama deal

FIRST Minister Peter Robinson has again publicly rejected claims he was to receive a fee from the sale of Nama’s Northern Ireland property portfolio.

The DUP leader faced a public questioning session today from Stormont’s Finance Committee.

In a lengthy opening statement, Mr Robinson said: “For the record I have never received, expected to receive or sought a single penny from the Nama sale,” he said.

Mr Robinson also denied claims that he had “kept in the dark” deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness about the Cerebus deal.

The Isle of Man money was part of a success fee paid to Belfast law firm Tughans, which worked on the Project Eagle deal for both Cerberus and Pimco.

It was diverted to the account on the instructions of Tughans’ then managing partner Ian Coulter.

The transaction is being investigated by the UK’s National Crime Agency at the request of the PSNI.

Both Mr Cushnahan and Mr Coulter have denied any wrongdoing.

Neither have appeared before the Finance Committee.

Mr Cushnahan is reported to have suffered a heart attack at the end of August while at church and could not be called to be questioned.

He is now said to be back to good health.