A former chief executive of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has been convicted of deleting or attempting to delete an email to prevent its release under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Anne Donaghy, 56, who became chief executive in 2015, has stated through her solicitor that she maintains her innocence and will challenge the conviction.

The Northern Ireland Public Prosecution Service announced its intention to prosecute her in June 2025 on three counts: concealing records, aiding and abetting another person to erase or conceal a record, and attempting to erase or conceal a record contrary to the Freedom of Information Act and other legislation.

The charges relate to the deletion of emails sent to DUP members concerning a letter to the Cabinet Office in London about post-Brexit border checks at Larne Port. One of those emails was sent to the personal email address of Baroness Arlene Foster, who was then First Minister of Northern Ireland.

A freedom of information request was later received from Belfast Live journalist Brendan Hughes seeking correspondence about the issues at Larne Port. That request was refused.

Donaghy argued that the email was deleted to protect Baroness Foster’s privacy. The judge found that a perception of Donaghy being too close to the DUP formed the basis of her decision, leading to the conclusion that she had intended to prevent the disclosure of information.

In a statement issued by her solicitor Kevin Winters of KRW Law, Donaghy said she was convicted on a case that was not made against her by the Public Prosecution Service and that she did not have an opportunity to defend herself against that case. The statement said all options are being considered to set aside the judgment.