The veteran DUP councillor at the helm of the Ballymena advice centre company says he knows “flip all” about its profit.

Ballymena Alderman Sam Hanna took over as sole director of Sarcon 250 in August last year. He is also listed as the landlord firm’s sole shareholder in newly-published official returns.

Asked yesterday about the 2007/08 accounts published last week and their reference to a £3,857 profit, Mr Hanna said: “I haven’t a clue. I know flip all about it, but it’s a very poor thing that it won’t make a profit if you’re in business lines at all.”

Stating that he left matters to accountants, Mr Hanna also said: “I know nothing about it, I’m only the landlord.”

A Department of Enterprise spokeswoman meanwhile said the company has been issued with a late filing penalty of £750. It missed the deadline for submitting its first accounts by some five months.

Asked about the fine, Mr Hanna said: “That’ll come out of the profit. Everything just doesn’t run to plan, and you should know that.”