3 June 1999 Edition
FAIT allegations being ``looked into''
By Peadar Whelan
A Northern Ireland Office spokesperson has told An Phoblacht that allegations made by a former Families Against Intimidation and Terror (FAIT) employee against the British government front group are ``currently being looked into''.
On Wednesday June 2, An Phoblacht asked the NIO to comment on information we had received that Adam Ingram, the NIO Security Minister, has instigated an inquiry into the misappropriation of funds within FAIT.
We asked if it was true that the group was in debt to the tune of £18,000, that rent for the FAIT office in Belfast had not been paid and that Adam Ingram had ordered an inquiry into the organisation.
In reply, an NIO spokesperson said: ``Certain allegations have been made against FAIT and these are currently being looked into.'' The spokesperson added that the allegations were made by a former employee and that they were as yet ``unsubstantiated''.
Two weeks ago, An Phoblacht reported that the Inland Revenue was investigating the organisation for non-payment of employees' contributions. We also reported that accusations were being made that funds had been misappropriated.
An Phoblacht also received information that self-confessed RUC informer Martin McGartland had made a donation of £2,000 to FAIT.
All the points we made were put to both the NIO and Sam Cushnahan, Director of FAIT. The NIO saying it was not aware of any irregularities and Cushnahan refuted the claims.
However, in an article in the Sunday World of Sunday 30 May in which it was claimed that FAIT were hunting a ``Provo mole'' within the organisation, the paper quoted sources as saying that McGartland admitted to having made a donation to FAIT because of the help they gave his brother.
A Northern Ireland Office spokesperson has told An Phoblacht that allegations made by a former Families Against Intimidation and Terror (FAIT) employee against the British government front group are ``currently being looked into''.
On Wednesday June 2, An Phoblacht asked the NIO to comment on information we had received that Adam Ingram, the NIO Security Minister, has instigated an inquiry into the misappropriation of funds within FAIT.
We asked if it was true that the group was in debt to the tune of £18,000, that rent for the FAIT office in Belfast had not been paid and that Adam Ingram had ordered an inquiry into the organisation.
In reply, an NIO spokesperson said: ``Certain allegations have been made against FAIT and these are currently being looked into.'' The spokesperson added that the allegations were made by a former employee and that they were as yet ``unsubstantiated''.
Two weeks ago, An Phoblacht reported that the Inland Revenue was investigating the organisation for non-payment of employees' contributions. We also reported that accusations were being made that funds had been misappropriated.
An Phoblacht also received information that self-confessed RUC informer Martin McGartland had made a donation of £2,000 to FAIT.
All the points we made were put to both the NIO and Sam Cushnahan, Director of FAIT. The NIO saying it was not aware of any irregularities and Cushnahan refuted the claims.
However, in an article in the Sunday World of Sunday 30 May in which it was claimed that FAIT were hunting a ``Provo mole'' within the organisation, the paper quoted sources as saying that McGartland admitted to having made a donation to FAIT because of the help they gave his brother.