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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| NI Events Company: Janice McAleese's conduct 'worst seen' - auditor | NI Events Company: Janice McAleese's conduct 'worst seen' - auditor |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The NI Audit Office has described the conduct of a quango boss who covered up a £1.5m loss as the worst it has seen from a senior public official. | The NI Audit Office has described the conduct of a quango boss who covered up a £1.5m loss as the worst it has seen from a senior public official. |
| A report states Northern Ireland Events Company (NIEC) chief executive Janice McAleese was involved in fabricating documents provided to a government department and her board of directors. | A report states Northern Ireland Events Company (NIEC) chief executive Janice McAleese was involved in fabricating documents provided to a government department and her board of directors. |
| Auditor General Kieran Donnelly said: "I am not aware of any other accounting officer failing so comprehensively to uphold the Nolan principles of conduct in public life." | Auditor General Kieran Donnelly said: "I am not aware of any other accounting officer failing so comprehensively to uphold the Nolan principles of conduct in public life." |
| The PSNI is in the process of completing a criminal investigation. | The PSNI is in the process of completing a criminal investigation. |
| Resigned | Resigned |
| Among the report's findings was that there was "potentially" a £262,500 shortfall in gate receipts lodged in the NIEC's bank account after four motorbike events between 2005 and 2007. | Among the report's findings was that there was "potentially" a £262,500 shortfall in gate receipts lodged in the NIEC's bank account after four motorbike events between 2005 and 2007. |
| For another event, it said there was no evidence takings were lodged at all. | For another event, it said there was no evidence takings were lodged at all. |
| According to the report, "it is unclear what happened to the income". | According to the report, "it is unclear what happened to the income". |
| The Audit Office report also said Ms McAleese hid a personal relationship with a contractor who was paid £120,000 for a motocross bike event in Moneyglass, County Antrim. | The Audit Office report also said Ms McAleese hid a personal relationship with a contractor who was paid £120,000 for a motocross bike event in Moneyglass, County Antrim. |
| There are "concerns over the authenticity of his invoices", it said. | There are "concerns over the authenticity of his invoices", it said. |
| The NIEC was created to boost Northern Ireland's image as a venue for high-profile sports and music events, like concerts at Stormont. | The NIEC was created to boost Northern Ireland's image as a venue for high-profile sports and music events, like concerts at Stormont. |
| It was funded by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL), but collapsed in 2007 after its financial problems came to light. | It was funded by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL), but collapsed in 2007 after its financial problems came to light. |
| Ms McAleese had resigned just months earlier, after four years in charge. | Ms McAleese had resigned just months earlier, after four years in charge. |
| In 2008, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) launched an investigation which lasted six years and cost £1.2m. | In 2008, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) launched an investigation which lasted six years and cost £1.2m. |
| It is currently considering director disqualification proceedings against Ms McAleese and NIEC board members. | It is currently considering director disqualification proceedings against Ms McAleese and NIEC board members. |
| The Audit Office said the board failed to provide adequate oversight, partly because of "the lack of financial skills and low attendance amongst some members". | The Audit Office said the board failed to provide adequate oversight, partly because of "the lack of financial skills and low attendance amongst some members". |
| It said DCAL could have identified the problems "much earlier" if whistle-blower complaints had been better investigated. | It said DCAL could have identified the problems "much earlier" if whistle-blower complaints had been better investigated. |
| The Audit Office report states the NIEC was technically insolvent in 2005, but a firm of accountants failed to detect it when it compiled its accounts. | The Audit Office report states the NIEC was technically insolvent in 2005, but a firm of accountants failed to detect it when it compiled its accounts. |
| The company has been referred by DETI to the body that regulates chartered accountants. | The company has been referred by DETI to the body that regulates chartered accountants. |
| Ms McAleese, who may now reside outside Northern Ireland, was unreachable for comment. | |
| Edwin Poots, who was minister for culture, arts and leisure in 2007, said the board of the NIEC and DCAL had taken their "eye off the ball" and "failed miserably". | Edwin Poots, who was minister for culture, arts and leisure in 2007, said the board of the NIEC and DCAL had taken their "eye off the ball" and "failed miserably". |
| "This was a company that was turning over £1.4m a year and its losses amounted to more than that," he said. | "This was a company that was turning over £1.4m a year and its losses amounted to more than that," he said. |
| "So it was an extreme case and it should have been identifiable at a much earlier point." | "So it was an extreme case and it should have been identifiable at a much earlier point." |