Red Sky scandal

The Housing Centre, Belfast

The Red Sky scandal was a political scandal in Northern Ireland that emerged in 2010 following a Spotlight investigation into Red Sky, a company based in Belfast which was awarded a maintenance contract by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.[1] The investigation showed financial irregularities at the company and showed that work was being carried out at a "poor standard" in west Belfast.[2] In April 2011, the £8 million contract was cancelled after the firm was found to be "significantly overcharging".[2] Members of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) intervened and campaigned for an extension to the Red Sky contract, citing "sectarian bias" for the contract being cancelled.[3]

Jenny Palmer, a DUP councillor, sat on the Housing Executive board. The board was due to discuss a request from the DUP's Minister for Social Development Nelson McCausland to extend Red Sky's contract. She alleged that Stephen Brimstone, McCausland's special adviser, pressured her into changing her vote at the meeting.[4]

The Housing Executive chairman said that McCausland's interference into the Housing Executive "amounted to an unwarranted and improper interference".[3]

  1. ^ "Ex-minister McCausland under intense fire as Red Sky scandal debate". 12 May 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Timeline of events surrounding Red Sky and housing body". BBC News. 7 July 2011. Archived from the original on 14 June 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  3. ^ a b "The DUP's full role in Red Sky row revealed". The Detail. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-21.
  4. ^ "DUP said adviser Stephen Brimstone was 'toast' over Red Sky row: whistleblower Jenny Palmer - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-21.