Northern Ireland

Alliance councillor's mayoral role had 'no influence' on misconduct probe says watchdog

Former Belfast lord mayor Nuala McAllister
Former Belfast lord mayor Nuala McAllister Former Belfast lord mayor Nuala McAllister

AN Alliance councillor's role as Belfast lord mayor "had no influence" in a long-delayed misconduct probe, a council standards watchdog has insisted.

Nuala McAllister issued an apology yesterday at the conclusion of an ombudsman investigation lasting more than two years – the longest in the office's history.

The councillor – whose tenure as lord mayor ended on Monday night – was the subject of a complaint about a leaflet distributed on her behalf in north Belfast.

Under the headline "What have they got to hide?", she criticised other parties which had opposed the audio recording of Belfast City Council planning committee meetings.

Accompanying the article was a picture of a jar stuffed with cash.

In March 2016, 31 councillors reported Ms McAllister to the local government standards commissioner, saying the leaflet alleged corruption.

Senior DUP, SDLP and UUP councillors claimed she had broken the councillors' code of conduct for publishing "defamatory material".

As a result of the investigation, an apology from Ms McAllister was published on the ombudsman's website.

She will also apologise in writing to each of the 31 complainants.

Ms McAllister said she had not intended to allege members of the planning committee were corrupt, but instead wanted to "promote greater openness and transparency".

"It did not occur to me that the text and photograph taken together could be interpreted by individuals as alleging or implying corruption by councillors in the discharge of their council duties," she said.

"I, however, now accept that the presentation of the article alongside the photographic image was open to alternative interpretation and that this did cause concern amongst members of the planning committee.

"I, therefore, wish to set the record straight and I apologise specifically to the members of the planning committee and those councillors who complained about the article for any concern caused."

Asked about the delays in the investigation, a spokesman for the standards commissioner's office said the probe considered "complex issues" including the rights of freedom of expression.

"In addition, a draft investigation report was issued to the councillor in December 2017, and the response to this report required careful consideration," he said.

Asked whether the probe was delayed because of Ms McAllister becoming lord mayor last year, the spokesman said: "This had no influence on our decision."

SDLP councillor Brian Heading welcomed the apology, but said councillors were "disappointed" that complainants were not consulted.

He also questioned the delay in progressing the investigation as well as the five-month gap between the draft report and apology.