Court told of ex-council chief's 'dismay' on audio recording over email copy

Former Mid and East Antrim Council chief Anne Donaghy expressed "dismay" over an audio recording where it was revealed that a copy of an email she wished to delete had been forwarded to senior DUP politicians, a court heard. However, during closing arguments at Ballymena Magistrates’ Court following a two-day trial, Donaghy’s defense barrister Michael Chambers KC argued that there were "multiple points of reasonable doubt" in the prosecution's case against her.

Donaghy, 56, faces charges of deleting an email, attempting to delete another, and procuring its deletion, all in an effort to prevent disclosure of information under the Freedom of Information Act. Aaron McClelland, 49, her former corporate services director, has been charged with attempting to delete an email. Both deny the charges, which relate to emails forwarded to former first minister Arlene Foster and other DUP politicians.

The prosecution claimed that Donaghy had been advised by DUP MPs to write to the UK Cabinet Office about her concerns regarding the NI Protocol and alleged threats to staff at Larne Port. Donaghy allegedly sought the views of DUP representatives on this matter, but not those of other parties. In June, a TUV delegation questioned why the letter was sent only to DUP members.

The court also heard from Donaghy’s former personal assistants, one of whom admitted deleting the email to Foster while the other refused to delete an email to another person.