DISGRACED County Palatine housing boss Barry Neill has quit his high-profile Wigan Hospice role.

Just a week after The Journal exclusively revealed that he had been sacked as chief executive of the Leigh-based County Palatine Housing Society, Mr Neill resigned as Hospice Council chairman and member.

The announcement was made on Tuesday, just hours before Mr Neill was due to chair the Hospice annual meeting.

And this week, Mr Neill's position on the Wigan and Bolton Health Authority is being reviewed by the Regional office of the NHS Executive.

Mr Neill was appointed to the new body on April 1. A decision on his future will be made by the Secretary of State for Health, Mr. Stephen Dorrell.

Mr Neill was dismissed by County Palatine for 'gross misconduct'. A spokesman for the society said that unapproved work had been carried out for Mr Neill's private benefit at the Society's expense.

Commercial Fraud Squad officers are investigating a complaint made about Mr Neill, who has just returned from a holiday in Spain.

On Tuesday, hospice administrator Stuart Liptrot paid tribute to Mr Neill's voluntary work.

"We have never had any reason to doubt Mr Neill's integrity and commitment. The council would like to record its thanks to Mr Neill for his five and a half years of dedicated service."

The Hospice Council, which met on Monday, were told that Mr Neill had stood down "in view of the adverse publicity and in the best interests of the Hospice."

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