The senior civil servant probing Downing Road’s lockdown events as soon as confronted down an armed IRA gang who tried to hijack her automotive, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.
Sue Grey was working a pub close to Newry in Northern Eire throughout The Troubles within the Eighties when she was confronted by Republican paramilitaries whereas driving alone at night time alongside a rustic highway, in response to a buddy.
‘She stated that one night time she had a really heavy chilly and one in every of her workers wished to get off early and she or he closed the bar down,’ the buddy stated.
Formidable: Sue Grey isn’t afraid to ruffle feathers contained in the corridors of energy, a former colleague says
‘She drove the individual dwelling and was coming back from South Armagh. She got here throughout a lightweight in the midst of the highway and was ordered to cease.
‘She thought initially it was the Military and did not realise the man was a paramilitary. He stated to her, “We wish the automotive, get out.”
And she or he simply bluntly refused and stated, “No.”
‘Greatly surprised, he stated, “What?” After which he stated to her, “Oh, you are f***ing English as effectively?”
The senior civil servant probing Downing Road’s lockdown events as soon as confronted down an armed IRA gang who tried to hijack her automotive
‘Simply because the state of affairs seemed prefer it was set to escalate, a voice got here out of the darkness and stated, “That is Sue Grey from The Cove, let her go on.”
‘Two or three nights later, she was working in The Cove and a well-dressed man was on the backside of the bar speaking with folks, earlier than nodding at her and saying, ‘Sue, did you get dwelling alright the opposite night time?’
The Cove Bar has lengthy since closed and a automotive dealership now operates on the location.
However the supply stated Sue Grey was a no-nonsense ‘Peggy Mitchell-style landlady’ whereas her husband Invoice Conlon, a rustic and western singer, most popular to entertain the purchasers.
Her buddy stated he believed the expertise of working the pub aided Ms Grey in her earlier position as Stormont’s prime civil servant within the Division of Finance from 2018 till final yr.
‘She ran the present and she or he had a sure appeal however she additionally wouldn’t endure fools gladly,’ stated the buddy. ‘You knew who the boss was all proper.’
A Stormont mandarin who labored within the Northern Eire Meeting similtaneously Ms Grey stated she was not afraid to ruffle feathers contained in the corridors of energy.
‘She very a lot noticed herself as a constructive challenger and that was one thing that obtained a variety of responses internally and externally,’ the previous colleague stated.
‘Some folks externally thought Sue was very totally different and actually warmed to her, however internally it was honest to say it was blended.’