Unions royal commission: sex toys, lingerie on Derrick Belan credit card

Sex toys, lingerie among thousands of dollars in items put on Derrick Belan’s union credit card, documents show.

Derrick Belan, former NUW secretary, has denied committing theft on a union credit card. Picture: Craig Greenhill

Sex toys and lingerie were among thousands of dollars in personal items paid for on Derrick Belan’s National Union of Workers NSW credit card, documents before the trade union royal commission show.

The toys and a three-piece “cami set” in red, which were not mentioned during four days of hearings into the NUW NSW Branch, were among $39000 in purchases from the Catchoftheday shopping website on Mr Belan’s credit card uncovered by the commission.

Mr Belan, the former NSW secretary, admitted to the inquiry on Tuesday that he used his union credit card to pay for a leg tattoo that depicts his parents and for expenses while on holidays.

However, he claimed he told his niece, union bookkeeper Danielle O’Brien, to repay the debts out his wages and insisted he was entitled to use the union credit card to go to restaurants and pay for fuel on his own time.

Ms O’Brien, who said her uncle transferred union funds via Pay Pal to her to pay his bills, confessed to using branch credit cards, including Mr Belan’s, to pay for personal items for herself.

Statements for the Catchoftheday purchases, which were tendered in evidence, reveal purchases on Mr Belan’s credit card on 29 November 2012 at 8pm costing $144.87 included:

Seven til Midnight 3 piece Cami set — Red

Ohhh G! G-Spot & Clitoral Stimulator

Sqweel 2 Oral Sex Simulator — White

Ophoria Everyday Collection XL V-RING

The statements show the union credit card also paid for iPhone accessories, clothes, sunglasses and children’s toys.

Mr Belan denied committing any “theft” and said he had resigned last month over Ms O’Brien’s “fraud”.

In a hearing this week, Mr Belan said he was “embarrassed” and “humiliated” by some of the detail that had come out about purchases put on his union credit card.

He spent $432 at the Buen-Arte tattoo parlour on a depiction of his parents on his calf, evidence released by the Commission reveals.

He was happy with the result.

In a written statement to the commission, tattooist William Buenen said Mr Belan returned a day or so later and told him: “My mother cried when I showed her my tattoo. She said to tell you ‘thankyou for making me look so young and beautiful’.”

The $432 cost was put on Mr Belan’s NUW-issued credit card.