Anne Donaghy, a former council chief, is among three individuals who have been referred to prosecutors for consideration regarding alleged misconduct in public office. The investigation stems from questions surrounding clothing expenses claimed by Audrey Wales, who served as mayor between 2016 and 2017.
Wales, a former Ballymena councillor, reportedly spent over £2,300 on clothing. However, initial inquiries under the Freedom of Information Act (FoI) in 2019 yielded a response stating that the expenses amounted to only £190. The full cost was only revealed through a second FoI request in 2022.
In 2022, Wales stated that she had sent a cheque to reimburse the council for most of the spending, aiming to put an end to "electorally motivated questions." Although the cheque was received by Donaghy, it was not cashed. Wales subsequently sent a second cheque in 2021 after learning the first had not been processed, asserting that she had acted in line with "guidance from council officials" at all times.
An investigation commissioned by the council in 2022, conducted by a Belfast-based firm, reportedly found that the council's initial FoI response involved "a deliberate manipulation." Donaghy has previously denied involvement in discussions about the FoI, stating that an email she sent referencing the cheque indicated her intention to cash it.
In January 2025, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) submitted a file to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS). A PSNI spokesperson confirmed that the file concerned two females aged 56 and 42, and a 57-year-old man, with alleged offenses including misconduct in a public office.
This development follows Donaghy's recent conviction for two charges related to deleting or attempting to delete an email to prevent disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. She was fined £1,500 and cleared of a third charge of attempting to have an email deleted.