CASTLEREAGH BOROUGH councillors have been asked to assist an inquiry into how Iris Robinson’s former lover, Kirk McCambley, was awarded the contract by the council to run the Lock Keeper’s Inn in Belfast in 2008.
Deloitte, which is conducting an independent investigation, wants to know from councillors whether Ms Robinson was in the chamber when the council awarded the contract to Mr McCambley and a business associate in August 2008, it was confirmed yesterday.
Last month, Deloitte presented a draft completed report of its investigations into whether proper protocols were adhered to in the granting of the franchise.
“It was agreed that the final report would be presented to the council, once officers and those named in the report were given the opportunity to review the report and respond to its content,” the council said in a statement yesterday. “As part of this process, further correspondence has been issued to councillors and officers to aid the completion of the final report.”
The council will be updated at its meeting in July, when the final report may be handed over.
The Deloitte review was ordered by the council in January last year after BBC’s Spotlight programme carried allegations that Ms Robinson was instrumental in persuading two businessmen to help finance the Lock Keeper’s Inn venture with a £50,000 loan.
It may be difficult for Deloitte to establish a definitive answer.
Alliance councillor Sara Duncan said she could not recall if Ms Robinson was in or out of the chamber when the decision was taken and she would be surprised if any member could remember.
“Iris Robinson was an MP and an Assembly member and she had a habit of not attending full meetings of the council,” Ms Duncan added. “I simply can’t remember whether she was in the chamber when the franchise was awarded.”
There was no practice at the time of the council secretary officially noting when members went in and out of the chamber at meetings. “It does happen now,” she said.
Deloitte was instructed to examine if the council suffered any financial loss as a result of Mr McCambley getting the lease; whether there was any impropriety in the awarding of the contract; whether local government legislation was complied with in the awarding of the lease, and what recommendations should be made following from the inquiry.
Last month after receiving the draft report, the council said: “The report concluded that there was no evidence of financial loss to the council or any impropriety by council officers or members directly involved in the assessment panel regarding the award of the lease.”
