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NI Fire Service: Ex-chiefs to be questioned by MLAs NI Fire Service: Ex-chief says whistle-blower 'right to do it'
(about 3 hours later)
Four men who held senior positions in the Fire Service are to be questioned by MLAs over financial irregularities and the handling of staff grievances. The former chief of the Fire Service, Peter Craig has been defending his actions at the organisation following a number of critical reports.
They are: former chief fire officers Colin Lammey and Peter Craig, ex-acting chief Louis Jones and an ex-chairman of the fire board William Gillespie. Mr Craig denied he suspended former senior accountant Linda Ford for whistle-blowing when she reported financial irregularities at the service.
The organisation has been at the centre of three investigations including one by the Department of Health. He told the assembly health committee on Wednesday that she was right to whistle-blow.
The chairman of the health committee said answers were needed. He said her suspension was related to a breach of data protection.
Sue Ramsey said they wanted the recommendations in the reports to be implemented. Miss Ford subsequently won £20,000 compensation after she took a case against the Fire and Rescue Service.
"We have been probing into some of the detail and the outworkings of some of these reports," she said. The former fire chief also defended his actions in relation to a Land Rover provided to the fire service by a sponsor.
"We felt it was important that we get the three former chief fire officers in front of the committee and the former chair of the board... so we can get the answers to the questions that we've been asking." He said that he acted in line with advice from his finance and procurement directors.
Last week, the BBC revealed that finance director Terry McGonigal had resigned. Safety issues
He had been off on sick leave since December. His position has been temporarily filled by an agency worker. Peter Craig's then boss told him to return the vehicle as he had concerns that it could conflict with rules over procurement.
Mr Craig returned the vehicle to the public relations agency that had secured it from a car dealership.
He told the committee that after the fire chief Colin Lammey retired, he was content to have the vehicle returned to the service as it was useful in promoting safety issues.
The former chairman of the Fire Service, William Gillespie, challenged a report that criticised the board for awarding bonuses in breach of departmental rules.
He said the bonus awarded was not in breach of the rules as the amount paid out was was in separate payments below the £5,000 cap set by the department.
In 2008, payments were made to the deputy chief fire officer, Louis Jones, and assistant chief fire officers Peter Craig and Tom Wright.
The £15,000 figure was not disclosed as required in the 2008/2009 pay documentation.
The move was not authorised by either the Fire Service board or the Department of Health.
Mr Gillespie told the health committee that four payments were made and because this was below the designated amount was not a breach of departmental rules.
He said he was therefore challenging the findings of the report presented to the assembly by the health minister.