Northern Ireland

Allison Morris: Political leadership found wanting in funding scandal

DUP councillor Sharon Skillen, loyalist Dee Stitt, First Minister Arlene Foster, Charter NI chairman Drew Haire and project manager Caroline Birch following the announcement of £1.7m of public funding for the east Belfast group
DUP councillor Sharon Skillen, loyalist Dee Stitt, First Minister Arlene Foster, Charter NI chairman Drew Haire and project manager Caroline Birch following the announcement of £1.7m of public funding for the east Belfast group DUP councillor Sharon Skillen, loyalist Dee Stitt, First Minister Arlene Foster, Charter NI chairman Drew Haire and project manager Caroline Birch following the announcement of £1.7m of public funding for the east Belfast group

As of this week you really have to ask who is in charge of Northern Ireland and is the dog wagging the tail or the tail the dog?

The controversy over funding for Charter NI rumbles on and no-one in any position of political influence seems to be able to do anything about it.

Arlene Foster told this newspaper a month ago it was her understanding the loyalist Dee Stitt was to stand down as its chief executive.

The truth is Stitt never resigned and doesn't intend to. The board of Charter NI have backed their boss, and sources say he also has the support of UDA members in north Down.

That makes him practically untouchable, and herein lies the problem. When political parties try to play fast and loose with public money, without first acquainting themselves with the rules of the big boys' playground, they inevitably end up looking foolish.

Arlene Foster, through no fault of her own, inherited a system where loyalists in places such as east Belfast were appeased financially.

She may not have been the architect of the various paramilitary slush funds but she now finds herself the gatekeeper and needs to assert her leadership.

Also Sinn Féin cannot step back from the SIF controversy, believing this is a unionist problem. All funding must be signed off by both first and deputy first ministers and as such they are as much responsible for the Charter NI controversy as their partners in government.

Sinn Féin MLA and former IRA prisoner Raymond McCartney said on the BBC Nolan Show that anyone with information on suspected paramilitary leaders "should take that evidence to the PSNI and then I've absolutely no doubt" that if evidence exists "there will be a trial".

There were 400 people intimidated from their homes in the last year by paramilitaries, but there has not been a single trial or conviction.

As a Policing Board member Mr McCartney should be aware this and also of the fear that exists in communities.

Protecting the well-paid jobs of the chosen few who have well-documented paramilitary links should never be at the expense of the terrified masses.