§ Mr. Robert McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost to public funds of salary payments made, since his suspension, to the employee of the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum at Cultra recently convicted of paedophile offences. [16718]
§ Mr. WorthingtonMr. Magill has been paid £42,554.24 from September 1995 to October 1997.
§ Mr. Robert McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate was made of the cost of an award by an industrial tribunal in the event of Ian Magill making a successful claim against the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum for unfair dismissal. [16719]
§ Mr. WorthingtonNo estimate was made of the cost of an award by an industrial tribunal.
§ Mr. Robert McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what factors led Ulster Folk and Transport Museum to employ Ian Magill after his first conviction on paedophile charges. [16720]
§ Mr. WorthingtonFollowing Mr. Magill's conviction in 1991, the Board of Trustees of the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum obtained legal advice about whether or not Mr. Magill could be dismissed. Counsel's opinion and that of the Museum's solicitors was that the Museum would have difficulty in establishing a fair dismissal.
§ Mr. Robert McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps her Department is taking to recover the salary paid to Ian Magill since his suspension; and if she will assess the advantages of restricting his pensionable service to the date of that suspension. [16721]
§ Mr. WorthingtonThis is entirely a matter for the Museum's senior management and Board of Trustees. They are seeking legal advice.
§ Mr. Robert McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment she has made of the legal advice obtained in the Ian Magill case. [16722]
§ Mr. WorthingtonNo assessment has been made as this is entirely a matter for the Museum's senior management and Board of Trustees.