Statement in relation to allegations made against Wisbech councillor Steve Tierney and Fenland District Council

Fenland District Council has strongly refuted allegations against it and a Wisbech councillor made on social media last night (Monday).

The statement issued this afternoon (Tuesday) makes clear there is no truth behind the claims made by Spike Cee (Simon Crowson) via the 50 Backpacks website.

The council statement reads: “Last night Fenland District Council was made aware of serious allegations made on 50 Backpacks’ Facebook page about Councillor Steve Tierney and Fenland District Council.

“The allegations were that Coun Tierney had been accused of serious sexual misconduct and that Fenland District Council had ‘covered up’ a complaint made about Coun Tierney’s alleged behaviour.

“50 Backpacks purportedly supported their allegation concerning Fenland District Council’s alleged “cover up” by publishing a partially redacted section of an email from FDC, sent in 2016.

“FDC has identified both the original email partially published last night and the full correspondence trail associated with that email.

“We can categorically confirm that this email has been completely misrepresented. The original email did not in any way relate to a complaint of sexual misconduct against Coun Tierney; there has never been any complaint received by FDC against Coun Tierney regarding sexual misconduct.

“The FDC email partially published by 50 Backpacks in support of their allegations last night has been fundamentally misrepresented by 50 Backpacks. Fenland District Council completely refutes 50 Backpacks’ blatantly false claim that the council 'covered up' any allegations of sexual misconduct, whether by Coun Tierney or by anyone else."