Politics

DUP had 'no permission' to use chief exec image says council

Theresa Donaldson, right, chief executive Lisburn and Castlereagh council, who was pictured with the DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson on a party election leaflet
Theresa Donaldson, right, chief executive Lisburn and Castlereagh council, who was pictured with the DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson on a party election leaflet Theresa Donaldson, right, chief executive Lisburn and Castlereagh council, who was pictured with the DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson on a party election leaflet
By Brendan Hughes

THE DUP did not seek permission to use a picture of a council chief executive on party election leaflets, a local authority has said.

Election literature for Jeffrey Donaldson includes a prominent image of him outside Westminister with Theresa Donaldson, head of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council.

The photograph, surrounded by party slogans and campaign messages, appears to be from a business event held at Westminster in March.

Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council last night distanced its chief executive, who is not related to Mr Donaldson, from the leaflets for the DUP's Lagan Valley candidate.

A spokeswoman for the council said: "Permission was not sought from the council nor from the chief executive regarding the use of the image. The image is of a non-party political visit to Westminster."

Asked about the election literature, the DUP last night did not respond to requests for a comment.