City of Culture project director resigns

News of Dermot McLaughlin’s departure from the role came a short while ago in statements from both Derry City Council and the Strategic Investment Board (SIB).

On the social network platform, Twitter, this afternoon, Mr McLaughlin tweeted responded to someone who posted an internet link to the story of his departure, tweeting: “Yes Mark,I’ve made my contribution.I am delighted to have had the opportunity to help.Big job done here,big one to do @tbct”. (Temple Bar Cultural Trust).

Mr McLaughlin was seconded from his role as Temple Bar Cultural Trust (TBCT) Chief Executive Officer via an agreement between his employer, SIB and Derry City Council. Dermot McLaughlin arrived in his native city to take up the position late last October.

No specific reason has been given for Mr McLaughlin’s departure from his Londonderry role. But, a statement from SIB this afternoon reads: “Dermot McLaughlin has resigned from his role as Derry City Council’s City of Culture Project Director. This was Mr McLaughlin’s decision, which he has taken for personal reasons. SIB and Derry City Council would like to thank him for his substantial contribution to the project, which came at a crucial time. We wish him every success for the future.”

The statement continues by noting that SIB and Derry City Council will now meet to consider the Council’s requirements for future support and will ensure that these are addressed.

Further information in the statement records that Mr McLaughlin has signalled his intent to return to his previous position as Chief Executive of Temple Bar Cultural Trust, from which he was seconded by SIB who noted that “the business case for the appointment was approved in line with normal procedures.”

The other stakeholder in the appointment of Dermot McLaughlin also released a statement this afternoon which says: “Derry City Council would like to thank Dermot for his significant contribution and direction at a critical time in the 2013 project and would like to take this opportunity to wish him every success for the future. Derry City Council and partners will meet to review and address the future operational requirements for the City of Culture project.”

An email obtained by the Londonderry Sentinel this afternoon apparently from Mr McLaughlin to the Chair of Temple Bar Cultural Trust (Daithi O’Ceallaigh) states: “Daithi, further to our recent conversations I write to give notice of my intention to return from secondment on Tuesday, 7th May 2013. I propose to take annual leave from Monday 29th April to Friday 3rd May inclusive. I would like to thank you for making possible this opportunity for me to avail of the secondment to the UK City of Culture Project in Derry and I look forward to returning to work at TBCT. Yours sincerely, Dermot McLaughlin, Chief Executive.”

TBCT Chair Daithi O’Ceallaigh then disseminated the return of Mr McLaughlin to the TBCT Board stating: “For your information Dermot McLaughlin has informed me that he has resigned from his seconded position in Northern Ireland and that he intends to return to TBCT in early May. I propose we discuss this development at our next Board meeting.”

On March 13, the Londonderry Sentinel highlighted that TBCT itself was placed firmly in the spotlight after the production of an internal audit report into the organisation. The internal audit report produced by TBCT’s sole shareholder Dublin City Council forensically examined the financial mechanisms in place at the organisation and concluded by making a series of 60 recommendations relating to monetary practice and procedures there.

The previously unseen report, dated March 8, 2013, is a fifty page document which located a series of flaws in the governance of TBCT, but makes no allegations of wrongdoing towards anyone employed by TBCT.

The organisation also told the Sentinel at the time of the initial article that the sixty recommendations contained within the report had already been implemented or were well in hand.”