NUW boss blames niece for using work funds to pay his bills

A former union boss has partly blamed his niece for spending union money to pay his personal bills.

Former National Union of Workers NSW boss Derrick Belan ­insists he didn’t steal thousands of dollars of members’ funds — spent on a cruise, a tattoo and other “personal” items — partly blaming his niece Danielle O’Brien.

The NUW NSW branch yesterday distanced itself further from Mr Belan, who is alleged to have possibly committed criminal offences of credit card fraud and larceny, declaring his successor, former assistant secretary Wayne Meaney, “the major driver’’ of change, in its legal submissions to the ­trade union royal commission published yesterday.

Mr Belan’s legal submissions, also released yesterday, claimed he could authorise loans to himself of up to $1000, which he then repaid. “He had no intention to permanently deprive the NUW of the funds,’’ the submission said.

Ms O’Brien, who was hired at 18 to work at the union by her grandfather Frank, Mr Belan’s late ­father and predecessor as NSW state secretary, told the inquiry Derrick Belan transferred money to her via PayPal using his union credit card to pay his personal bills.

Mr Belan’s lawyers stressed that Ms O’Brien was “visibly upset” while giving her evidence. “The evidence is that Danielle O’Brien had access to Derrick Belan’s credit cards and other credit cards issued to officials … that she misused her position as the NUW’s bookkeeper,’’ they said.

Mr Belan’s submission also ­referred to his “stress and (psychiatric) illness”, and urged the commission to take “caution … before seeking to criticise inconsistencies in evidence given”.

Acknowledging breakdowns in governance, Mr Belan’s lawyers submitted he otherwise acted “in good faith” and gave “outstanding service” to the branch.

The NUW NSW branch yesterday suggested it was unlikely Mr Belan would receive a $327,000 termination payment or benefit from a deed of release signed by Mr Meaney.

Mr Meaney, who has sought legal advice over the deal with Mr Belan, came under scrutiny on Thursday when it emerged he ­attended a concert by rock band Kiss paid for on a union credit card and also spent $4000 in union funds on a hotel room. The revelations were not examined by the royal commission.

Mr Meaney swore a new statement on Saturday, supplied to the commission, which the branch has requested be tendered as evidence.

“Mr Meaney has clearly set out to deal with the potential problems caused by the deed and has ­advised Mr Belan, in clear terms, that the union reserves its rights in relations to the deed,’’ it said.

The NUW NSW submissions denied Mr Meaney and branch president Marilyn Issanchon broke registered organisation laws over governance failures at the branch.

Mr Belan’s union organiser brother Nick Belan was also innocent of criminal offences for credit card use, the submissions said.

National secretary Tim Kennedy said the union had considered applying to the Fair Work Commission to place the branch into administration, a move that ultimately requires intervention by the Federal Court or the federal government.

“That remains an option open to us,” Mr Kennedy told The Australian.