DUP defends minister’s Wimbledon trip

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has defended the deputy first minister over a publicly-funded trip with her husband to Wimbledon.

Almost £1,000 was spent on flights and accommodation when Emma Little-Pengelly and Education Authority (EA) chief executive Richard Pengelly attended the tennis tournament.

Some Stormont parties have criticised the spending, but The Executive Office (TEO) said it was in line with civil service policy and “no additional expenditure” was incurred on behalf of her husband.

In a statement to BBC News NI, the DUP said the invitation was issued “in her capacity as deputy first minister and it will be registered in the normal way”.

The EA said Mr Pengelly attended while on leave and “no spend was incurred” by the education body.

More than £980 was spent on the trip, according to a Freedom of Information request revealed last month by The Irish News.

The couple were pictured in the Royal box at centre court alongside celebrities including American pop star Olivia Rodrigo, professional wrestler John Cena and former England football manager Roy Hodgson.

Little-Pengelly posted photos online, describing the invitation as the “honour of a lifetime”.

The DUP minister and First Minister Michelle O’Neill were invited by the All-England Club, but O’Neill did not take up the invitation.

Members of the legislative assembly (MLAs) declare any gifts or hospitality they receive worth more than £250 on a public register of interests.

This is “including those received in a ministerial capacity”, according to assembly guidance.

But the DUP said the Wimbledon invite did not need to be declared on the assembly register.

A party spokesman said: “The invitation was issued to Emma Little-Pengelly in her capacity as deputy first minister and it will be registered in the normal way via the department in the register of ministers’ gifts and hospitality.

“Because invitations to the Royal box are never offered for sale it is not possible to put a value on this and therefore does not meet the threshold for inclusion in the register of members’ interests.

“The only comparable price available is for the price of a centre court ticket for the relevant day of attendance, which does not meet the threshold for inclusion.”

Tickets for centre court seats on 2 July cost between £95 and £120, according to Wimbledon’s website.

A spokesman for the club in south London said Royal box tickets “are not commercially available”.

Several Stormont parties have criticised the spending.

Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) MLA Matthew O’Toole, leader of the opposition, said it “beggars belief”.

“The idea that official business was conducted in the Royal box at Wimbledon insults the intelligence of the public here,” he said.

Alliance Party MLA Paula Bradshaw, chair of the assembly’s Executive Office scrutiny committee, said she would be raising questions.

Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) MLA Timothy Gaston, a member of the committee, also questioned the “justification for the public paying the bill”.

A spokesman for TEO said: “Details of gifts and hospitality received by ministers are recorded on the ‘Register of Ministers’ Gifts and Hospitality Received’ which is published on a quarterly basis.”

In a previous statement, TEO said the deputy first minister “flew economy”.

“While she was accompanied in her official capacity by her spouse, no additional expenditure was incurred by TEO on behalf of her guest,” a spokeswoman said.

“The travel and accommodation costs incurred by the deputy first minister are in line with NICS (Northern Ireland Civil Service) policy.”

The EA said “no spend was incurred” by it and the trip was “made in a personal capacity” while Mr Pengelly was on annual leave.

The Executive Office said while the first minister declined the Wimbledon invite, she attended the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) football all-Ireland semi-final later in July.

It said there were “no costs” associated with O’Neill’s attendance at the match between Tyrone and Kerry at Croke Park in Dublin.

Sinn Féin said O’Neill attended the semi-final “at the invitation of the GAA” and there were “zero costs to the department”.