Belfast City Council executive Nigel Grimshaw ‘retires’ ahead of Bobby Storey funeral probe

A senior Belfast City Council executive has “retired from his role” as an independent probe into the council’s handling of the Bobby Storey funeral is due to begin.

Nigel Grimshaw – a former senior police officer – joined the council as its strategic director of city and neighbourhood services in 2016.

Both Mr Grimshaw and chief executive Suzanne Wylie faced intense scrutiny after it emerged that on the day the IRA leader was cremated at Roselawn on June 30, eight other families were prevented from holding services at the council-run cemetery.

On Friday, a council spokesman said: “We can confirm that Nigel Grimshaw has retired from his role in council as of today.”

However, Mr Grimshaw has indicated that he will cooperate fully with the investigation despite standing down from his position.

In July, councillors voted in favour of a fully independent investigation.

Barrister Peter Coll is reported to have been appointed to conduct the probe.

An internal report compiled by the council, which has been seen by the BBC, makes it clear that no cremations were cancelled to accommodate the Bobby Storey cremation, however, the document accepts that it was wrong not to have allowed eight other families the same access to Roselawn.

The report states: “The director of city and neighbourhood services (Nigel Grimshaw) has acknowledged… that was a mistake for which he takes responsibility,” the BBC reported.

A week after the funeral, Mr Grimshaw and Ms Wylie issued a joint statement, apologising for what happpened at Roselawn on that day.

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