Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“Earlier this week I revealed that the Minister of Communities had commissioned an independent review of the Charity Commission following a threat of legal action made to an RUC widow. The Baume report into how her case was handled rightly commented that it “hardly seems an appropriate response by a public body to the grieving widow of a disabled police officer” and revealed “problematic cultural issues” within the Commission.
“Now it has emerged that an internal investigation following a complaint by Jamie Bryson has exposed the fact that Commission staff purported to place Mr Bryson under oath during a voluntary interview without having the legal authority to do so. The Commission’s own investigation has recommended that Mr Bryson should receive an apology. It has also resulted in the Commission’s internal procedures being revised to ensure that such an incident is not repeated.
“This is the latest in a litany of gaffes and failures by the Commission and one is tempted to wonder how anyone can consider the Commission a body which is fit for purpose as a result.
“I have today tabled a question to the Minister for Communities asking if the issues highlighted in the report into Mr Bryson’s complaint will be included within the scope of the review into the Commission.”