Kilbroney  pitch audit investigation shut down

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (NMDDC) has had plans for GAA and soccer pitch designs for Kilbroney Park, including the location of a changing room pavilion, since December 2020.

However, the council’s planning department report has highlighted possible impacts on a popular tourist trail known as The Fairy Glen as well as the “visually intrusive” impact of the pavilion design.

A recent special audit committee, lasting 15 minutes, discussed the matter in secret session with a decision overruling the previous committee call for an investigation on Kilbroney, as announced by independent chair of the committee, Brona Slevin.

The new decision was ratified this week during NMDDC’s full council meeting at Downshire Civic Centre, showing a proposal by Downpatrick councillors, Oonagh Hanlon (Sinn Fein) and seconded by Gareth Sharvin (SDLP) overruling the initiation of an investigation.

The special audit committee minutes state: “That there would be no further independent services engaged on the complaint in relation to Kilbroney pitches at this juncture.

“That this recommendation supersedes the recommendation per the draft minutes of the audit committee held on 1 February 2024.”

The Local Democracy Reporting Service understands that a grant in the region of £500,000 is due to be delivered to the Kilbroney project if successful, from the council’s multi-sports hub programme.

Concern was raised over the procedural element of the move by the elected rep who initiated the investigation.

Crotlieve independent councillor, Jarlath Tinnelly said: “I just want to say from the outset, I accept the decision that the audit committee have made. I don’t wish to dwell on this issue.

“But I have concerns about procedure, and I think it is important that members know, this was an investigation that I initiated and asked for.

“And it came back through the audit committee and I wasn’t even invited to that meeting last week.

“So, I wasn’t able to speak on the outcome of the findings.

“I just want to put it on record, from a procedural point of view, that I found it quite extraordinary, but I do accept that the audit committee have taken a view on the report and that is their recommendation.

“I’ve expended enough energy on this issue.”

In response deputy chairperson, Gareth Sharvin (SDLP), who chaired the full council meeting, added: “Just for your own information, as of the previous audit committee at the point this item was discussed, you were asked to leave the meeting due to a conflict of interest within the item.

“Similarly with the special audit committee, given that the similar item was being discussed, you wouldn’t have been asked to be invited due to the conflict within the item itself.”