Former Mid and East Antrim Council chief Anne Donaghy and another official, Aaron McClelland, stand trial over alleged email deletions connected to FOI requests and the NI Protocol controversy, with evidence including an audio recording of Donaghy reacting to the existence of a hard copy.

FOI requests in February and in April/May sought copies of letters sent to the Cabinet Office, which the council refused to disclose on health, safety, and security grounds.

The council acknowledged the verdict in the case but did not comment on potential disciplinary actions beyond governance considerations.

The trial timeline includes forwarding FOI-related letters on February 1–2 to multiple DUP figures, with further FOI requests in February and April, and discussions in June about the letter and its reception.

Donaghy was awarded the OBE in The Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2020 for services to local government and the community during the coronavirus pandemic.

The sought letter appears to have been leaked to a political representative from the Alliance Party, in the context of FOI requests for access to related emails.

Witnesses, including Donaghy’s assistants and a policy manager, described meetings and concerns about a possible leak during investigations.

The trial centers on how information related to the Northern Ireland Protocol was handled amid politically sensitive Brexit-related factors and the FOI process.

Mid and East Antrim Council reaffirmed its commitment to high governance, transparency, and information management standards and said it would carefully consider the verdict and any implications.

Ulster Unionist Party leader urged Cabinet Office to strip Donaghy’s 2020 OBE, arguing the conviction breaches duties in local government.

Key witnesses include two former personal assistants who testified about the deletion attempt and the handling of hard copies; McClelland stated he kept hard copies in a locked cabinet.

If convicted, charges could carry penalties related to deleting information to thwart FOI disclosures and facilitating deletion of emails.