No special investigation for Gaza trip

DUP MP Gregory Campbell had written to the Auditor's office seeking an investigation following his concerns that the mayor travelled as part of a Sinn Fin delegation and not as civic representative of Londonderry.

Mr Campbell told the Sentinel he believed two issues had arisen from the visit: "Local ratepayers paying for a visit by the Mayor to an international trouble spot must be highly questionable and in addition if it is part of a Sinn Fin visit, given that Party's support for the Palestinian cause, the auditor should investigate the matter urgently."

In response to Mr Campbell's contentions a spokesman for Sinn Fin said: "Paul Fleming is in Gaza as Derry City Mayor and First Citizen on the invitation of the Mayor of Khan Younis which was accepted and approved by councillors. He was not on a Party delegation. I have no doubt that the majority of citizens would support the Mayor's acceptance of the invitation to see at first hand the conditions pertaining in the Gaza strip and to report back to Council and the people of Derry on what he has observed.

"I have no doubt that any impartial observer will find that the Mayor and Council were right to accept the invitation."

Sinn Fin Councillor Gerry McLaochlainn and Bairbre de Brun MEP, also attended-but Sinn Fin said that these two representatives had travelled on separate briefs from that of Mayor Fleming.

A spokeswoman for the Northern Ireland Local Government Association told the Sentinel: "The Chief Local Government Auditor has confirmed that he has received a letter with regard to the Mayor's trip to Gaza: The query will be considered as part of the normal audit of the Council's accounts."