Donegal County Council’s monthly meeting has been adjourned three times, the first time within five minutes of its opening.
As minutes from the November meeting were being discussed, Cllrs Gary Doherty and Nicholas Crossan asked what the situation was regarding claims made at that meeting of systematic corruption in Donegal County Council.
The claims had been made by Cllr Frank McBrearty.
Cllr Doherty asked if the claims had been substantiated, and if so, were they being fully investigated. That was echoed by Cllr Crossan.
Responding, Cathaoirleach Cllr Jack Murray said these were very serious allegations, at which point Cllr McBrearty rose to his feet asking ‘Are you a member if An Garda Siochana?’
When asked to sit down, Cllr McBrearty refused, pointing to a box of files on the table before him saying ‘Here’s your evidence’.
Cllr Murray then adjourned the meeting for ten minutes.
When the meeting resumed, Cllr Murray began to outline his discussions with Chief Executive John McLaughlin, at which point Cllr McBrearty rose again asking ‘Where’s your mandate to investigate anything?’.
The meeting then adjourned for a second time, with Cllr McBrearty continuing to interject from the floor.
Upon attempting to reconvene the meeting for a third time, disruption continued and the meeting of Donegal County Council has once again been adjourned.
It is hoped to get underway again shortly.
