Alliance 'no confidence' in paramilitaries' payments probe

Alliance Party assembly member Seamus Close has said that he has "no confidence" in a government investigation into payments to alleged paramilitaries posing as ‘community workers’.

Mr Close was speaking after NIO Minister Des Browne said this morning that such payments – such as those to jailed UFF commander Johnny Adair – would be investigated by the Department of Social Development.

Mr Close said: “I would have no confidence in the department investigating how its funding ended up in the pockets of paramilitaries.

“As a member of the Public Accounts Committee, I have a catalogue of examples of departments’ self-investigatory roles and how they have at times disregarded the proper procedures.

“I would call on the Northern Ireland Audit Office to conduct any investigation instead.”

The issue of payments to alleged paramilitary members comes on the back of a hard-hitting investigation by BBC's Spotlight team broadcasted last night.

The programme alleged that Johnny Adair, who was incarcerated on January 10 for breaching the terms of his licence, was paid for five weeks last year as part of a prisoners' programme funded by the government. It has been alleged in various media outlets that Adair earns around £2 million a year through organised crime. The Spotlight team also contended that Adair earned up to £5,000 a week from one brothel in north Belfast.

The government has moved to confiscate the assets of criminals gained through illegal activity through the creation of the Assets Recovery Bureau. The bureau, which is headed in Northern Ireland by former PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Alan McQuillan, is expected to be operational next month.

(GMcG)