Overview
- A two-day trial of former Mid and East Antrim Council chief Anne Donaghy and ex-director Aaron McClelland ended with Judge Alana McSorley dismissing a no-case-to-answer application and reserving judgment for Wednesday afternoon.
- Donaghy faces charges of deleting an email, attempting to delete an email to prevent disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, and procuring deletion, while McClelland is charged with attempting to delete an email; both deny the allegations.
- Prosecutors relied on an audio recording from an assistant’s pen and testimony that one assistant deleted an email to former first minister Arlene Foster and another refused to delete a second message.
- The defence says Donaghy asked for deletion to protect Foster’s personal email from being leaked and noted there was no active FOI request when the deletion was sought, while both defendants say hard copies were retained in the council.
- If found guilty, Donaghy could face a fine up to £5,000 and the verdict could deepen scrutiny of how council officials handled sensitive emails about a January 2021 letter on Larne Port and alleged threats.