Stormont depts criticised over misuse of EU funds
The North's Public Accounts Committee has strongly criticised two Stormont departments over the misuse of EU peace funds.
The committee has found that the Hospitality Association of Northern Ireland, a now defunct employers' body set up to train workers in the hotel and restaurant sector, misappropriated public funds.
It over-claimed salary payments, sometimes by double or even triple the money actually spent.
The PAC says the two Stormont departments supposed to supervise the association were weak and showed poor judgement.
It also says senior officials turned a blind eye to improper behaviour and categorised the obtaining of false invoices as "mismanagement" rather than fraud.
