SIPO finds former Meath County Council cathaoirleach 'recklessly' contravened ethics rules

Former Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council and Mayor of Navan, Tommy Reilly “recklessly” contravened the Code of Conduct for Councillors, the Standards in Public Office Commission has held.

The Commission which published its findings on an investigation into the former Fianna Fail councillor today (Tuesday) said the breaches were of “a serious rather than a minor matter.”

In its report, the Commission held Mr Reilly recklessly failed to disclose his son’s interest in lands at Liscarton at a Special Planning Meeting of Meath County Council at which rezoning of the land was to be discussed, although he had excused himself on the grounds of conflict of interest.

The Commission also found that it was inappropriate for Mr Reilly to have attended a pre planning meeting regarding the lands with his son.

The Commission was unable to find Mr Reilly had actual knowledge of his son’s, or sons’, interest in the Liscarton lands prior to the planning meeting and therefore could not find a contravention of the regulations in that regard.

The hearing by SIPO, which took place over two days last June, examined “alleged contraventions of the Local Government Act 2001 and the Code of Conduct for Councillors” by the former Fianna Fáil public representative.

The Commission, chaired by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, investigated Mr Reilly’s involvement in the rezoning of a 35-acre site in Liscarton, Navan. The land, owned by his son, saw its value rise from €500,000 to €4.2m after it was rezoned in 2017. The land has not been sold.

See the full story in this evening's Meath Chronicle

In response to the publication of the report, Meath County Council said: "Meath County Council is considering the report and seeking advice on what steps Meath County Council should take at this stage."