How Courier broke story

• April 2019 – Edmundson Electrical begin supplying heat and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to Dundee City Council after the Scottish Government ordered authorities to improve safety in the wake of the 2017 Grenfell fire.

• May 2019 – Two senior council employees attend a golf trip on the Spanish coast arranged by Edmundson.

• October 19 – Council bosses are accused of putting up a wall of silence after an investigation by The Courier reveals the lucrative smoke alarm contract was awarded to Edmundson without ever going out to tender. The authority refuses to say whether a fraud probe has been launched.

• November 8 – It is revealed head of construction services Mark Ross has resigned in the midst of allegations he attended the golf trip. Mr Ross told staff he was giving up the role due to ill health.

• Dundee City Council’s scrutiny committee convener Kevin Keenan confirms he warned bosses about concerns passed to him months earlier by members of the public.

• November 9 – Businesses in Dundee come forward to say they repeatedly tried to raise concerns about the awarding of the contract and attempted to submit rival bids.

• The council corrects its previous statement and says for the first time Edmundson was subcontracted the deal by Mr Ross’ construction services department.

• November 13 – It is revealed a second senior employee, Kenny Muir, has been suspended after his details were passed to investigators by a whistleblower.

• November 29 – Edmundson Electrical confirms both Mr Ross and Mr Muir attended the trip but insists the pair “covered their own expenses”. The firm says neither party was responsible for negotiating the supply arrangement for the smoke alarms.

• Dundee City Council refuses to turn over its gifts and hospitality register for employees.