NEWS
The internal Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Provider (NIFRS) inquiry started in 2021
By Attach Simpson & Claire Smyth
BBC News NI
An internal investigation at Portadown Fire Jabber has heard claims that some on-call firefighters allegedly took a fire engine to a pub.
Or now not it is also claimed that alcohol became stored in a fridge at the situation.
Two of us own been disregarded after the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Provider (NIFRS) inquiry.
NIFRS said a “sturdy internal investigation into allegations of misconduct” has concluded.
The provider added that “appropriate action” had been taken in accordance to its protection.
The inquiry started in 2021 and led to February.
The BBC has spoken to multiple sources who confirmed that one in every of the allegations which brought on the inquiry became a fire engine being taken to a pub within the town, where some on-call firefighters in uniform drank alcohol whereas the automobile became parked commence air.
Or now not it is also claimed that some on-call firefighters drank alcohol whereas on accountability together with in some unspecified time in the future of shifts that had been designated for practising.
A series of allegations brought on the internal investigation
Investigators are believed to own also heard claims that some on-call firefighters replied to emergency calls whereas inebriated.
These allegations had been integrated in a letter sent to participants of crew at the situation in autumn 2021.
Claims ‘very serious’
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart described the allegations as “very serious”.
The Democratic Unionist Celebration (DUP) politician said: “I feel about or now not it is main now that we restore self belief in some unspecified time in the future of the Portadown space and that folk know and in actuality feel that their fire provider is adequately resourced.
“I’m going to undoubtedly be making illustration in that regard to rep certain that that folk own the mask in that space that is required.”
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart says self belief desires to be restored after the claims
The BBC understands at the very least one person that became disregarded is attention-grabbing the decision.
The fire provider said it doesn’t touch upon “person employee matters” but that “ongoing toughen is being supplied”.
The BBC asked the fire provider about every of the allegations made about crew ingesting alcohol.
It said it would possibly probably per chance per chance per chance now not comment additional due to “confidentiality”.
A spokesperson added: “We need to reassure the local neighborhood that an efficient emergency response within the Portadown space is being maintained.
“Your fire and rescue provider is ready to retort need to you wish us most.”
The Division of Well being is the oversight body for the NIFRS.
It said: “Whereas the department would possibly per chance now not touch upon person cases, there are established requirements for all public servants and the general public is entitled to depend on these to be followed.”
Bullying and harassment at Portadown fire situation
More than one sources own also told the BBC that a assortment of on-call firefighters basically basically based at Portadown Fire Jabber are on prolonged-term unwell depart as a results of, what they dispute, became intimidation by some of these beneath scrutiny in some unspecified time in the future of the internal investigation.
These sources also acknowledged they believed these workers can own considerations about returning to work at the situation due to alleged bullying and harassment by some of their colleagues.
Picture source, PA Media
On-call firefighters are fragment-time workers who can attain their local situation internal 5 minutes (stock reveal from Getty Photos)
The BBC asked NIFRS about these allegations.
It said it would possibly probably per chance per chance per chance now not touch upon the reasons crew are absent from work.
The Fire Brigades Union said: “It wouldn’t be appropriate to comment whereas a task is ongoing.”
What is an on-call firefighter?
These are fragment-time workers who would possibly per chance per chance aloof be ready to attain their fire situation internal 5 minutes of being alerted to an incident.
They lift a pager, which is activated when firefighters are required to retort to an emergency within the gap.
Most workers own a elephantine-time job in other locations.
Many also work as elephantine-time firefighters or in loads of roles in some unspecified time in the future of the fire provider.
NIFRS said it employed 800 wholetime and 893 on-call firefighters in February closing year.
Sixty of Northern Ireland’s 67 fire stations are wholly or partly staffed by on-call firefighters, in accordance to an self reliant inspection of the fire provider which became published closing year.
