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Belfast Telegraph
3 days ago
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Emma Little-Pengelly defends Wimbledon trip after calls for £1k cost to be repaid
The Deputy First Minister has defended her trip to Wimbledon after calls for the £1,000 she billed the taxpayer to be returned. Emma Little-Pengelly said it was 'hugely positive' that she could represent Northern Ireland by attending the tournament. Ms Little-Pengelly and her husband, Education Authority chief executive Richard Pengelly, were pictured at the event last month. The pair were snapped in centre court's Royal Box alongside celebrities including US pop star Olivia Rodrigo, England football boss Thomas Tuchel and wrestler John Cena. It later emerged the taxpayer footed the bill for Ms Little-Pengelly's attendance. Some £980 was spent on flights and accommodation. On Friday Alliance deputy leader Eóin Tennyson urged her to repay the money. Mr Tennyson said it "beggars belief that the Deputy First Minister saw fit to take a jolly to Wimbledon on the taxpayers' dime.' His statement added: 'The only decent thing to do, at this point, would be for the Deputy First Minister to pay the money back.' Ms Little-Pengelly addressed the controversy for the first time in a post on X on Friday night. She said her role as Deputy First Minister involved 'leading from the front', saying she has 'worked tirelessly to champion Northern Ireland at every opportunity'. 'In this role we have the huge privilege too of being invited to attend Northern Ireland, Irish and UK events of national significance, including sporting events,' she said. 'I count it a huge honour to have been invited as DFM to attend the Royal Box at Wimbledon at the invitation of the chair of the club. 'The organisers invite a mix of political, government, investors, business along with the world of sport and entertainment, and of course royalty, as part of the official aspect of the tournament in the Royal Box. 'It is hugely positive that Northern Ireland is invited to be represented at this significant UK British national sporting event, of huge global impact. News Catch Up - Friday 8th August 'Wimbledon generates over £200million for the UK economy. I was hugely honoured to be asked to support the event and to represent officially as DFM. 'I will always be the biggest champion of this wonderful place of Northern Ireland. 'I will always do my best to promote us at every opportunity and it is the biggest honour of my life to ensure our voice is heard. 'As a unionist, I am determined too to play my part in supporting and promoting all that is fantastic about our UK. 'Some will criticise, some will try and attack. It will not diminish nor distract me from my drive and determination. It will not stop my positivity and championing Northern Ireland.'
BBC News
3 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Emma Little-Pengelly defends Wimbledon trip as chance to promote NI
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly has defended spending public money on a trip to Wimbledon, saying she will always seek to promote and champion Northern £1,000 was spent on flights and accommodation when Little-Pengelly and Education Authority (EA) chief executive Richard Pengelly attended the tennis has faced criticism for the spending from some Stormont parties, with Alliance's deputy leader saying she should pay the money back. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) defended its party member on Thursday but Little-Pengelly had not directly addressed the criticism until a post on social media site X late on Friday night. In the post, she said in her role she has the "huge privilege" of being invited to attend events of national significance, and that she considered it a "huge honour" to be asked to attend the Royal Box at Wimbledon as deputy first minister."The organisers invite a mix of political, government, investors, business along with the world of sport and entertainment, and of course royalty, as part of the official aspect of the tournament in the Royal Box," she wrote."It is hugely positive that Northern Ireland is invited to be represented at this significant UK British national sporting event, of huge global impact."I will always be the biggest champion of this wonderful place of Northern Ireland. I will always do my best to promote us at every opportunity and it is the biggest honour of my life to ensure our voice is heard."She said that while "some will criticise, some will try and attack", it will not "stop my positivity and championing" of Northern Ireland. Earlier on Friday, Alliance's deputy leader Eoin Tennyson told the Irish News that Little-Pengelly should pay back the £980 of public funding that went towards the described it as a "jolly to Wimbledon on the taxpayers' dime"."It's easy to see why the DUP is clearly unable to explain or justify why the public should be picking up the nearly £1,000 tab."The only decent thing to do, at this point, would be for the deputy first minister to pay the money back."His criticism echoed those of other parties earlier this week, including the Social Democratic and Labour Party's (SDLP's) Matthew O'Toole who said the spending "beggars belief" and Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) assembly member Timothy Gaston who questioned the "justification for the public paying the bill". What's the background to the Wimbledon trip row? The criticism began when the deputy first minister and her husband Mr Pengelly were pictured at centre court's Royal Box alongside celebrities including American pop star Olivia Rodrigo, professional wrestler John Cena and former England football manager Roy Hodgson.A Freedom of Information request by the Irish News revealed that more than £980 was spent on the trip. In the face of the criticism, the DUP said on Thursday the invitation was issued "in her capacity as deputy first minister and will be registered in the normal way".Both the deputy first minister and First Minister Michelle O'Neill were invited to Wimbledon, but O'Neill did not take up the invitation. The Executive Office (TEO) said O'Neill did attend the All-Ireland Football semi-final between Tyrone and Kerry later in July but there were "no costs" associated with that the deputy first minister's trip to Wimbledon, the Executive Office said details of gifts and hospitality received by ministers are recorded on the 'Register of Ministers' Gifts and Hospitality Received'.It previously said that the deputy first minister "flew economy" and that while she was accompanied by her husband, there was "no additional expenditure" incurred by the TEO on his also said the travel and accommodation costs were "in line with NICS (Northern Ireland Civil Service) police".The Education Authority said "no spend was incurred" by it and the trip was "made in a personal capacity" while Mr Pengelly was on annual leave.
Irish Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
Police probe church incident where Burke family confronted education official
Police in Northern Ireland are carrying out inquiries into an incident where members of the Burke family accosted a DUP councillor outside a Presbyterian church. Mervyn Storey, a former MLA for North Antrim – who is now a councillor, was approached by members of the protesting evangelical Christian family outside the Hebron Free Presbyterian Church in Ballymoney. In a video posted to one of the Burkes' social media accounts on Monday evening, Mr Storey – who is the chairman of the Education Authority in Northern Ireland – goes into the church while being asked questions by Martina Burke and her son Josiah. Ms Burke said they were in a "state church implementing government ideology" and refer to Education Authority guidelines on how to support transgender students. 15/14/2024 Enoch Burkes brother Simeon, sister Ammi and mother Martina Burke and other family members arriving at the The Criminal Courts of Justice today. Pic- Collins Courts They are seen standing in the atrium of the church in the 17-minute video filmed by a third Burke family member before being ejected from the building. A PSNI spokeswoman said: "Police are aware of a video being circulated online and inquiries are being conducted in relation to the matter." The Burke family, from Co Mayo, have been known to confront multiple politicians in public places while videoing them. In March, three members of the family were forcibly removed from a gala dinner in Washington DC attended by Taoiseach Micheal Martin as part of St Patrick's Day celebrations. While canvassing ahead of November's general election, Fine Gael leader and then-Taoiseach Simon Harris was accosted by the Burkes in Castlebar, Co Mayo. They have also been involved in legal disputes in Ireland arising out of the suspension and subsequent dismissal of Enoch Burke from his job as a teacher. He is in the process of appealing against his dismissal. The long-running dispute stems from incidents related to a request from the then-principal of the school he worked at to address a student by a new name and the pronoun "they". Mr Storey has been contacted for comment. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Police probe church incident where Burke family confronted education official
Police in Northern Ireland are carrying out inquiries into an incident where members of the Burke family accosted a DUP councillor outside a Presbyterian church. Mervyn Storey, a former MLA for North Antrim – who is now a councillor, was approached by members of the protesting evangelical Christian family outside the Hebron Free Presbyterian Church in Ballymoney. In a video posted to one of the Burkes' social media accounts on Monday evening, Mr Storey – who is the chairman of the Education Authority in Northern Ireland – goes into the church while being asked questions by Martina Burke and her son Josiah. Ms Burke said they were in a 'state church implementing government ideology' and refer to Education Authority guidelines on how to support transgender students. They are seen standing in the atrium of the church in the 17-minute video filmed by a third Burke family member before being ejected from the building. A PSNI spokeswoman said: 'Police are aware of a video being circulated online and inquiries are being conducted in relation to the matter.' The Burke family, from Co Mayo, have been known to confront multiple politicians in public places while videoing them. In March, three members of the family were forcibly removed from a gala dinner in Washington DC attended by Taoiseach Micheál Martin as part of St Patrick's Day celebrations. While canvassing ahead of November's general election, Fine Gael leader and then-taoiseach Simon Harris was accosted by the Burkes in Castlebar, Co Mayo. They have also been involved in legal disputes in Ireland arising out of the suspension and subsequent dismissal of Enoch Burke from his job as a teacher. He is in the process of appealing against his dismissal. The long-running dispute stems from incidents related to a request from the then-principal of the school he worked at to address a student by a new name and the pronoun 'they'. Mr Storey has been contacted for comment.
RTÉ News
6 days ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Investigation after Burke family confronts DUP councillor
The PSNI is carrying out inquiries into an incident where members of the Burke family confronted a DUP councillor outside a Presbyterian church. Mervyn Storey, a former MLA for North Antrim, who is now a councillor, was approached by members of the protesting evangelical Christian family outside the Hebron Free Presbyterian Church in Ballymoney. In a video posted to one of the Burkes' social media accounts yesterday evening, Mr Storey, who is the chairman of the Education Authority in Northern Ireland, goes into the church while being asked questions by Martina Burke and her son Josiah. Ms Burke said they were in a "state church implementing government ideology" and refer to Education Authority guidelines on how to support transgender students. They are seen standing in the atrium of the church in the 17-minute video filmed by a third Burke family member before being ejected from the building. A PSNI spokeswoman said: "Police are aware of a video being circulated online and inquiries are being conducted in relation to the matter." The Burke family, from Co Mayo, have been known to confront multiple politicians in public places while videoing them. In March, three members of Burke family, were forcibly removed from a gala dinner in Washington DC attended by Taoiseach Micheál Martin as part of St Patrick's Day celebrations. While canvassing ahead of November's general election, Fine Gael leader Simon Harris was confronted by the Burkes in Castlebar, Co Mayo.
