Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
PSNI plea on ‘creepy clown’ paintings raid
Services hit by deadlock at Stormont
PUBLIC services are suffering in Northern Ireland because of lack of direction from ministers, a top official said yesterday.
Civil service chief David Sterling added staff have been frustrated by the collapse of the Assembly for more than a year.
He said “budget certainty” for the next financial year must be secured by February 8 and warned the funds were due to fall in real terms.
Mr Sterling told the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee: “There is a frustration and we do fervently want to see a return of ministers and functioning Executive.
“We have not reached a shutdown point but public services are suffering as a consequence of this because we are not getting the direction we need.”
He called for clarity about total cash allocations from the beginning of April for Stormont departments.
If Assembly talks fail, Secretary of State Karen Bradley will be under pressure to draw up next year’s budget with the help of civil servants.
The Education Authority has refused to approve their plans as they were unable to show they could stay within their allocated limits in 2017/18.
But the move has sparked outrage among principals and parents who say it illustrates the scale of the funding crisis in the system.
Ulster Unionist Rosemary Barton said: “I have been forwarded emails the EA sent to several schools on Tuesday and to say there is a sense of anger and bewilderment from principals would be an understatement.
“The problems in our education system continue to grow by the day.
“Class sizes continue to swell, subjects are being cut, buildings are becoming increasingly run-down and shortfalls in school budgets now increase PSNI officers probing items for sale on ebay are trying to reunite several “creepy” clown paintings with their owner.
Two people were arrested over the seizure of €5,000 in cash and bizarre items believed to have been stolen.
Speaking about the house raids on Monday, the PSNI said: “As well as dingalings and knockers, we’ve also got creepy paintings, a sundial, large door handle, a pair of what are potentially very old push/pull door bells and a small box.”
Police have received calls about the door furniture but the framed clown art has not yet been claimed.
A spokesman said: “We now have a fair few of the items identified and linked to owners.
“We also have others not pictured which we have matched up, thanks to our investigation into an ebay account.”
Police warned unsuspecting buyers they may be holding stolen goods but added they will not get into trouble.
A spokesman added: “If you have ever bought anything from the ‘tinais_123’ ebay account, phone 101. Reference 231 of 23/01/18.”