Year long wait for quango answers

The Northern Ireland Events Company collapsed with huge debts

An investigation into a collapsed quango will take at least a year to produce findings, a Stormont committee has heard.

The collapse in 2007 of the Northern Ireland Events Company with debts of £1.6m is being investigated by the Department of Enterprise.

A progress report given to MLAs heard that investigators have not yet spoken to anyone directly involved.

MLA David McNarry said he did not think anyone will be held accountable.

"What's being done is a whitewash for civil servants involved," he said.

Public money is being used to pay those owed money by the company, which was funded by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.