Chief Executive accuses Council of being ‘crass and insensitive’ as legal proceedings launched

It was revealed this afternoon, Thursday 2 December, that the suspended Chief Executive of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is set to launch legal proceedings against the local authority.

In a statement released by Ms Donaghy’s solicitor, Kevin Winters, the embattled Chief denied “all unsubstantiated allegations made against her”, and has started legal action within the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, claiming discrimination on grounds of her sex, religious and political beliefs.

Mr Winters said:

“We act on behalf of Anne Donaghy. She wants to place on record her firm denial of all unsubstantiated allegations made against her in recent media reports. She is again deeply concerned to learn about a further example of what amounts to a systemic leakage of confidential Council decision making to the media and other third parties.

“The latest instance of such leaks relates to a password protected confidential email communication sent to Councillors confirming a decision on her suspension. Within a very short time of her receiving formal correspondence about her suspension the decision was posted on social media.

“Throughout this politically driven agenda to unseat her as Chief Executive of Mid and East Antrim she has retained her dignity in the face of often heavy media intrusion into her family and private life.

“To date there has been zero accountability on the part of the Council on the manner in which it has conducted itself on a series of issues all of which are the subject of pending disciplinary and other proceedings.

“We can confirm our client as a disabled person has initiated proceedings against the Council within the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

“She is claiming discrimination on grounds of her sex, religious and political beliefs.

“She is making this formal announcement now in response to the unjustified decision to suspend her at a time when she is on sick leave.

“Such decision making has been crass, insensitive and in many ways given the cynical deployment of the media by the Council, utterly predictable.

“She will contest the suspension decision issued today and is confident that once due process is complete she will return to her position as Chief Executive.”