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A Crotlieve councillor has formally proposed that an investigation is launched into an unnamed council officer in relation to an incident surrounding an ongoing Judicial Review of the proposed Civic Hub planned for behind Newry Cathedral.
At the 6 July Council meeting Cllr Tinnelly had criticised an unidentified council official for allegedly making “scandalous” claims against him shortly after paying respects at his deceased daughter’s coffin. The meeting heard of “serious allegations” linking the elected member to an “affidavit” connected to the JR.
Cllr Tinnelly explained at the time: “Like all other elected members, I also received an email on May 19 regarding an update on the JR (Judicial Review) for the Civic and Regional Hub which included the following sentence, ‘the applicant’s solicitor has failed to honour the timetable agreed and advised on 22 April that they could not present their skeleton argument as they required an affidavit from an elected member’.
“To my utter dismay and bewilderment, I was subsequently informed over the following weeks by some of my fellow councillors that the elected member referred to in this email was myself, because an official in this council had named me to some of my elected colleagues.
“For the avoidance of doubt, to suggest I have any part to play in this JR is a scurrilous lie and for a council employee to name me in such a cavalier manner without having the common decency to raise it with me first, is I hope you agree, absolutely scandalous.”
At that July meeting Cllr Jarlath Tinnelly had asked for an apology from the officer which would 'be the end of the matter" but at last evenings 3 August meeting he noted: "I've had no correspondence or word from that officer since, so I'm happy enough, Chairman, as I indicated last month, to to allow this to play out via a formal investigation."
Following the July meeting a Council representative issued a reply on behalf of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council: "In relation to the Civic Centre judicial review, the Council’s legal representatives were advised by the applicant’s solicitors on 23 April 2026 that Councillor Tinnelly was to lodge an affidavit to support the applicant’s case but that he was unable to do so. The Council agreed that the case should be moved to a later date. It regrets that the information that was sent to it was incorrect and that the information has caused further upset to Councillor Tinnelly.
"The Council’s legal representatives will be seeking an urgent explanation from the applicant’s solicitors about the content of their letter. In the circumstances, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”
At last nights 4 August meeting a Council legal advisor said: "Just to confirm, in relation to any governance or any discussions on this matter, it's an ongoing legal matter. I did advise group party leaders today by email as well to confirm there is an ongoing legal process which will have to be exhausted in any event. The matter will have to be brought to the attention of the High Court judge in relation to the representations that were made through that case, and it is ongoing. It's inappropriate to discuss it any further." adding "they're not two separate matters. They're both interlinked because they relate to the same ongoing application."
In reply Slieve Gullion Cllr Pete Byrne said: "We just want to make sure that we're protected going forward, that the right information has been given to us. That is the point I'm making.
He added " 'It's a legal matter'. That's the line that we get when we ask questions about sensitive information on a JR, right? But then that's thrown out the window if somebody's name is put out there. Why wasn't that line given for that?"
Slieve Gullion Cllr David Taylor emphasised that all councillors should get information on significant issues concerning the council and not just group leaders. He said: "All councillors, irrespective of whether they have a group leadership or not, should be kept informed on significant issues of concern to this council. It shouldn't be for me, to have to come to this chamber and beg to be asked to get be told something. It should be standard practice for the council to do that."
Cllr Tinnelly added: "I've seen a lot of gaslighting going on here this evening, and it has very very quickly come into play. I want to be absolutely certain about something here. The JR and the contents of the legal correspondence were nothing to do with my complaint. My complaint is solely on what that officer done with that information. So the two issues cannot be conflated, and I will be seeking a formal investigation to begin into the matter that I'm raising here, which is what that officer done with that information. So, if I need to make a formal proposal to that effect, I am happy to do that."
Cllr Tinnelly then made a proposal "I wish to make a formal proposal that an investigation be launched into this matter through the appropriate. avenue.". This was seconded by Cllr Alan Lewis.
