NI Fire Authority member quits after row

A senior member of Northern Ireland’s Fire Authority has quit after a row with union chiefs, it was revealed today.

Rosemary Craig, who was involved in efforts to end the Northern Ireland firefighters’ strike, has accused her bosses of leaving her isolated.

She claimed: “I have been let down and I have been betrayed.”

But union representatives blamed her for stirring up tensions and insisted she had to go.

A letter of resignation from Mrs Craig was sent to Des Browne, the Northern Ireland Office Minister who controls the fire service, last week.

A copy was also forwarded to Fire Authority chairman William Gillespie at his headquarters in Lisburn, Co Antrim, saying she would not be back after six years.

All Fire Authority belongings have now been removed from her home near Belfast.

However, Mrs Craig has now demanded an inquiry into how her resignation letter was leaked, claiming she only sent a copy to the authority’s clerk.