Dissident email volunteer leaves CCG
THE Confederation of Community Groups has dispensed with the services of a volunteer who used one of its computers to issue a press release on behalf of a dissident republican group.
The press statement, which poured scorn on Provisional Sinn Fein and other republican groupings for their speeches during the Easter commemorations in Newry, was sent last month on behalf of Republican Sinn Fein by local man Eddie McKeown, a member of the party.
It was forwarded at a time when staff at the Confederation’s Ballybot House headquarters had gone home.
In the wake of the e-mail, Mr McKeown admitted to the Democrat that he had sent it without permission and described his actions as a “grave mistake on my part”.
On behalf of the Confederation, chief executive Raymond Jackson stated that the e-mail had breached the organisation’s electronic communications policy and said that the matter would be thoroughly investigated. Confirming that this has now been done, Mr Jackson told the Democrat this week: “We’ve reviewed our procedures and policies and carried out an investigation.
“Following that, we have taken the appropriate course of action.” While Mr Jackson refused to confirm exactly what steps have been taken, saying that such matters would remain internal, it is understood from another source that Mr McKeown is no longer working as a volunteer with the Confederation.
