Cllr in ethics probe: 'I did it for the people'
The Killarney councillor at the centre of the latest ethics inquiry over negotiating a €25,000 payment from a developer claimed this week that he 'would do it again tomorrow'.Cllr Donal Grady said: 'I did it for the people. I am elected to do my best for them'.
Cllr Grady is being investigated by the Mayor of Killarney, Patrick O?Donoghue, who himself was the subject of an ethics inquiry and is due to stand trial at the Circuit Criminal Court for alleged breaches of ethics legislation.
Cllr Grady became the subject of an ethics investigation after contacting Kerry County Council Ethics officer, Brian Looney, over a donation being offered by a developer for funding for Pinewood Estate in Killarney. Cllr Grady objected to the office and retail unit developpment but withdrew his objection. A sum of ?25,000 was paid by the developer to the estate residents and lodged with Killarney solicitor Terence Casey. The matter was referred to the Killarney Town Manager, John Breen, by Kerry Local Authority. The investigation, which centres around funding from a developer to residents of Pinewood Estate, is being carried out by Cllr Patrick O?Donoghue and the Killarney Town Manager.
Cllr Grady has been interviewed by the Mayor and Town Manager and a report is currently being compiled although it is believed the result will not be known for a number of weeks yet.
If Cllr Grady is found to be in breach of ethics legislation, the report will be forwarded to the Standards in Public Office Commision - which also investigated now Mayor of Killarney, Patrick O?Donoghue.
Cllr Grady, said this week he is confident he will be exonerated:??Everything I did was above the call of duty. I went for advice to the ethics officer and now I am being investigated. I know I will be exonerated 110 per cent.? He added that he did not gain financially from the transaction and was only the facilitator.
The two charges facing Cllr O?Donoghue relate to his alleged failure to leave a meeting of Killarney Town Council when rezoning of land, owned by his family, was discussed. He is also charged with attempting to influence a decision on the issue by lobbying other elected representatives. He has denied any wrong doing.
