Council refers expenses claims of three members to SIPO

The Standards in Public Office Commission has confirmed that it has received files from Donegal County Council in relation to expenses claims submitted by three councillors.
The files relate to claims submitted by the three members between 2006 and 2009.
Last year, dossiers containing documents and a covering letter signed by a “concerned taxpayer were sent to the council, the Ethics Registrar and local media in relation to three councillors, David Alcorn, Dessie Larkin and Padraig O’Dochartaigh.
In a statement issued today, the council says after detailed consideration of the matter, the then Mayor and County Manager jointly concluded that the matters should be referred to the Standards in Public Office Commission.
This position was confirmed in writing to all relevant parties last Friday, and the council says would be inappropriate now to comment further, pending the outcome of the Commission’s deliberations on the matter.
A spokesperson for SIPO told Highland Radio News today that the files will be carefully examined, and then it will be decided if any further action is necessary.