North coast property tycoon Seymour Sweeney is denying the accusation that he committed common assault in an alleged incident last year. The case was adjourned at a Co Antrim court yesterday.

DUP member Mr Sweeney (55) is proposing to build a commercial visitor centre close to the Causeway, Northern Ireland's top tourist attraction.

His controversial plan was boosted earlier this month when DUP Environment Minister Arlene Foster said she was "of a mind" to grant him planning permission.

The assault case had been listed for contest at Antrim Magistrates Court yesterday.

But it was adjourned until October 19, when a new date for the proceedings will be fixed.

Mr Sweeney, who was not present, is charged with committing the offence on July 25, 2006.

His address was listed as Ardihannon House, Runkerry, which lies close to the Giant's Causeway.

The DUP has been embroiled in a "cronyism" row over the Causeway saga, primarily because MLA Ian Paisley Jnr has lobbied strongly in support of the developer's scheme over a number of years.

The Environment Minister has stressed that she was unaware of Mr Sweeney's DUP affiliation when she reached her preliminary decision in favour of his visitor centre planning application.

Mrs Foster also stated: "I do not know the applicant, have never met him, and know nothing about him."

It was revealed by the Belfast Telegraph this week that environment chiefs in Mrs Foster's department have strongly recommended a planning refusal for the businessman.

An alternative plan for a new publicly-owned Causeway centre, involving the National Trust and Moyle Council, was this month shelved by DUP Enterprise Minister Nigel Dodds.

Mr Sweeney was last night unavailable for comment.