An ex-council chief executive is a subject in a police investigation into a former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) mayor's clothing expenses. Anne Donaghy is one of three people referred to prosecutors for consideration over alleged misconduct in public office at Mid and East Antrim Borough Council. It is the latest case surrounding its handling of Freedom of Information (FoI) legislation after Donaghy was convicted on Wednesday of two charges over the deletion of an email to former DUP leader Arlene Foster.
Donaghy's solicitor told BBC News NI the allegations would be "met with the same robustness as this week's proceedings which are now under appeal". The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed a file has been submitted to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) for consideration. Police said the investigation was in respect of two women aged 56 and 42, and a 57-year-old man.
None of the three are the former DUP mayor whose expenses were examined. The case centres on questions over clothing expenses claimed by Audrey Wales, 80, who was mayor between 2016 and 2017. The Ballymena councillor spent more than £2,300, but the council did not disclose the full cost when asked for details in an FoI request.
Instead its response in 2019 said Wales had spent just £190. The entire bill was only revealed in a second FoI in 2022. In a statement in 2022, Wales said she had sent a cheque in 2019 reimbursing the council for most of the spending to stop "electorally motivated questions".
The cheque was received by Donaghy, but was never cashed. Wales, who sent a second cheque in 2021 upon learning the first had not been processed, said that "at all times" she acted in line with "guidance from council officials". The council in 2022 commissioned a Belfast-based firm to conduct an investigation.
It found the council's FoI response involved "a deliberate manipulation", according to a copy leaked to the Belfast Telegraph., external Donaghy has previously denied being involved in discussions about the FOI and said an email she sent referring to the cheque showed that she intended to cash it. When asked at the time whether it was examining the case, the PSNI said detectives were continuing to "investigate suspected offences of misconduct in public office and under the Freedom of Information Act 2000". In an update, a PSNI spokesperson told BBC News NI: "A file was submitted to the PPS in January 2025 concerning this investigation in respect of two females aged 56 and 42, and a 57-year-old man." It is understood the investigation file relates to alleged offences including misconduct in a public office.
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