Ilex head faces Stormont questions over company spend

The head of the organisation responsible for regenerating Londonderry has been appearing before a Stormont committee.

Aideen McGinley will answer criticism over how Ilex spent more than £400,000 without proper government approval.

MLAs were also expected to ask why a former Ilex chief executive was paid unauthorised bonuses.

Ilex was set up in 2003 and was involved in projects like Ebrington Barracks and the City of Culture bid.

The criticism is set out in an Audit Office report which claims there was a "systemic breakdown" in how Ilex used the money given to it by central government.

It said £400,000 was spent on projects without proper approval by government departments.

It also criticises bonus payments of £29,000 to former chief executive, Bill Kirk.

The payments, between 2007 and 2009, should have been approved by the Department of Finance but were not.

Ilex said it believed the payments were in line with Mr Kirk's contract.