- Anne Donaghy, the former chief executive of Mid and East Antrim Council, is on trial for allegedly deleting emails to prevent their disclosure in a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.
- The prosecution argues that Donaghy acted due to a perception she was 'the DUP's person', as she was advised by local MPs to write to the Cabinet Office regarding concerns about the NI Protocol.
- On April 29, 2021, a recording captured Donaghy asking her PA to delete an email sent to former Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster.
- The trial began on Monday at Ballymena Magistrates' Court and is expected to run for two days.
- On January 30, 2021, Donaghy sent a letter to a UK Cabinet Office official outlining concerns about the NI Protocol at Larne Port and the safety of council staff.
- The letter was forwarded to Arlene Foster and other DUP politicians on February 2, 2021.
- On February 8, 2021, the council received an FOI request from a journalist, which was refused on health and safety grounds.
- In April 2021, Donaghy appeared before a Stormont committee where she faced questions about her letter to the Cabinet Office.
Anne Donaghy, 56, is on trial for allegedly deleting emails related to a letter she sent to the UK Cabinet Office regarding safety concerns at Larne Port.15
The prosecution claims she deleted emails to avoid scrutiny due to her perceived closeness to the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).
"The perception that she was too close to DUP politicians" was cited as a motive for her actions.
The emails in question were sent to former Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster and other DUP members, raising alarms about "sinister graffiti" threatening staff safety.3
Following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request from journalist Brendan Hughes, the council opted not to release the information, citing health and safety concerns.
"One line of criticism was that Anne Donaghy had consulted with DUP to the exclusion of other parties," a prosecution barrister stated, highlighting the political implications of her actions.
The trial, presided over by District Judge Alana McSorley, is expected to last two days, with Donaghy vehemently contesting the charges against her.
“The court heard an audio recording of Donaghy asking her PA to delete the email to Foster, and she admitted to police she did so over fears of leaks. The trial, under District Judge Alana McSorley, is expected to run two days.”
BBC
