Following on from the BBC Spotlight programmes on abuses of Assembly expenses, TUV leader Jim Allister has been pursuing DSD about its funding and handling of premises at 148-152 Springfield Road, which featured in the programme as the base for the Sinn Fein research front, Research Services Ireland, and the generously funded Clonard Residents Association.
Following a response to an Assembly Question 39508/11-15 Jim Allister wrote to the DSD minister, Mervyn Storey, in the following robust terms:-
“I am astounded by information contained in your answer to AQW 39508/11-15.
“It turns out that in 1998 – the timing, I suspect is significant in matching the desperate push by the Blair government to placate Sinn Fein – DSD paid over £280,000 to Clonard Residents’ Association (headed up subsequently by leading IRA/Sinn Fein figure, Spike Murray) to build premises on the Springfield Road, Belfast with a view to CRA occupying the premises for a peppercorn rent so that they could sub-let for income.
“Thereby public money, which in fact was PEACE money, was used to enrich this residents’ association and provide them with control and finance from the entire first floor of the building. One of the “tenants” for several years was Research Services Ireland, run by Sinn Fein’s finance officers.
“I have never encountered such generosity towards a resident’s association!
“In fact it turns out that your department itself remains in possession of the 999 year lease, but, it seems, has allowed CRA to sublet offices to others. How was such sub-letting legal? Now, in your answer you advise you intend to complete the arrangement with CRA by handing over the 999 year lease to CRA.
“I would call on you not to do this, but, instead, to launch a full investigation into the mishandling of public funds for the enrichment of a private interest organisation. If DSD in fact holds the lease, then, it is time, surely, that the department started charging a commercial rent to all occupying under it. To do otherwise is to be complicit in this most unseemly episode.
“It is quite possible that under a Blair minister questionable arrangements were reached, but how can you now rubber-stamp and regularise same?
“This whole matter has the whiff of political chicanery and fix. It is up to you as minister, I suggest, to expose and unpick it.”
Whereas in his original answer to the Assembly Question, Mr Storey seemed content to proceed to complete on the bizarre arrangements attaching to the building and occupation of this building, in his reply to Mr Allister’s letter there may be signs that he is having second thoughts, in that he has now “instigated an investigation” of the circumstances by which DSD took and retained a lease on the property.
Commenting Jim Allister said, “Whether this investigation amounts to anything remains to be seen. It needs to be thorough and unrelenting. The abuse of public money, apparently to grease the ‘peace process’, is a scandal. As a custodial of public money DSD should not be handing out properties cost and rent free to vested interests, so that they can then raise funds by sub-letting them.
“It will be telling to see if the minister’s investigation rocks the ‘Research Services Ireland’ boat! Likewise, why has Clonard Residents Association, with its apparent close Sinn Fein connections, been so feted? Why have commercial rents not been collected by the department for commercial premises? And, why at this stage would the minister hand over the entire first floor of this building to CRA at no cost and for its enrichment?
“I am calling on him to not only unearth and publish the truth of all that has gone on, but to commit to protecting the public purse by extracting a commercial return for the use or purchase of any property. Bad enough these premises were built with public money, but worse if now Minister Storey hands them over to the CRA for a mere peppercorn rent.
“I will be watching closely what Minister Storey does.”