Mid and East Antrim Council: DUP will not return to group leader meetings

In mid January, graffiti started to appear in NI

Meetings between the Mid and East Antrim Council group party leaders are set to be reinstated but the DUP will not be returning to take part.

The party withdrew last week, leading to the meetings being suspended by the council's chief executive.

Alliance has criticised Anne Donaghy for meeting only unionist group party leaders on Tuesday.

A council spokesman said Ms Donaghy was "regularly required" to meet group leaders across the political spectrum.

A special meeting of the full council will be held on Monday evening, after Alliance lodged a motion calling for an independent investigation over the council's decision to remove border inspection staff from Larne Port earlier this month.

Alliance councillor Noel Williams questioned why Ms Donaghy had met unionist party group leaders, ahead of Monday's council meeting.

• Inquiry into suspension of Brexit border checks

• Why were Northern Ireland port checks suspended?

• NI port staff return after security concerns

"While the chief executive retains control of decision-making for the council through delegated authority, any discussions on issues aimed at influencing should be communicated to all party groups equally," he said.

"It is therefore crucial that unionist parties reveal what was said to them at the meeting, and the DUP need to confirm if they will return to group leaders' meetings."

'Details of discussions leaked'

A council spokesman said: "Meetings this week were requested and also took place with the Alliance Party among others.

"Decision-making lies with elected members through full council."

It is understood a meeting of the council's group party leaders is scheduled for Wednesday.

Alliance has now criticised Anne Donaghy for meeting just unionist group party leaders on Tuesday

But DUP group party leader Gregg McKeen said he would not be taking part.

"The party group leaders' meetings are not a decision-making body, but should be a problem-solving forum," he said.

"Unfortunately when details of discussions are leaked, it negates the usefulness of this forum."

He added that if those problems were resolved, the DUP would be happy to resume participation.

A spokesman for the council said Ms Donaghy often needs to meet elected representatives, including group party leaders, from across the political spectrum to discuss ongoing council matters affecting Mid and East Antrim and its constituents.

The withdrawal of council staff from Brexit inspection posts at Larne Port followed the appearance of threatening graffiti in Larne and claims of security threats.

But the PSNI later said there was nothing to indicate loyalist paramilitary involvement or that workers' car registrations had been taken.

A Stormont investigation is to take place into the suspension of checks at Larne and Belfast Port.

But Alliance, Sinn Féin and the SDLP have called for Mid and East Antrim Council to establish its own investigation to determine how decisions around the removal of its staff were taken.

The council has said its priority remains the safety of staff and that the situation remains under review, in partnership with the council's stakeholders.