Ex-Belfast Trust chairman says he was a 'scapegoat' over sacking

The former chair of the Belfast Trust, Ciaran Mulgrew, has said he believes he was sacked because he was being used as a "scapegoat" by the health minister.

Mike Nesbitt sacked Mr Mulgrew in July, saying he believed a fresh start was required at the trust.

However, Mr Mulgrew said the Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health, Mike Farrar, told him that he "did not support the minister's decision" to sack him, that he "advised against it and regarded it as a political decision made by the minister who was uncomfortable answering questions before the health committee".

The health minister said he had "no wish to engage in a war of words with Mr Mulgrew but he made a "number of assertions which I do not recognise as fact".

Mr Mulgrew said in a statement: "I am quite happy to be judged on the things that I have done, but I will not allow unfairness or inequity to go unchallenged and no one, including me, should be kicked around for political convenience or be scapegoated by anyone".

He said working at the trust had been a "tremendous honour".

He said the Belfast Trust was no exception to any "large complex organisation," which will have difficulties.

"I believe that anyone in a position of leadership has a responsibility to do something to address problems when they are identified," he added.

"I never avoided any problems in the Belfast Trust and worked to address every issue that arose. At all times, I kept the Department of Health fully informed on each issue, and I was open and transparent with all staff."

Mr Mulgrew was appointed as chair of the Belfast Trust in April 2023.

The Belfast Trust has faced a number of issues over the past decade including building delays, overspends, and repairs and more recently the cultural issues in the Royal Victoria Hospital's cardiac surgery unit - issues which resulted in extra oversight measures being put in place at the trust.

Mr Nesbitt reiterated in a statement that he had publicly thanked Mr Mulgrew for his contribution.

He said the Belfast Trust was a "complex and challenging organisation to manage".

"As health minister, I need to have confidence in those in charge of the organisation," he said.

"It is also the case that events can conspire against individuals, however well-intentioned, and can make their position untenable," he added.

"After serious consideration, reflecting on the seriousness of current problems, I reached the conclusion that a new start is needed at the trust with a new chair as well as the new chief executive.

"I believe that is in the best interests of the organisation, its staff and all those who rely on its services."

At the time of Mr Mulgrew's sacking Diane Dodds, the Democratic Unionist Party's (DUP) health spokesperson, said the departure of Mr Mulgrew was a "testament to the sheer scale of crisis within the Belfast Trust".

"There have been a series of scandals over recent months and this reflects that. However, it should be remembered that many of these issues predated the current chair's tenure," Dodds said.

She added: "There is a wider systemic problem within the Belfast Trust that will not be resolved by simply removing one individual.