Codd felt ‘targeted’ after raising issue of irregularities on Anne Street site
AONTÚ TD Peadar Tóibín has vowed to raise the issue of alleged planning irregularities at Wexford County Council in Dáil Eireann this week. A long running saga, the issue surrounds the manner in which a site for government offices in Anne Street was assembled back in the early 90s.
Deputy Tóibín has taken an interest in the issue after concerns were raised by his party colleague, councillor and by-election candidate Jim Codd. The issue is currently under investigation by the OPW and the State Solicitor’s Office.
Cllr Codd claims that he was ‘targeted’ by colleagues for raising the issue at the conclusion of the last meeting of Wexford County Council, when members of the media were asked to leave so that the council members could deal with in camera matters.
‘When the media left that meeting, all hell broke loose,’ Cllr Codd said. ‘Some of my colleagues went for me. Now I’m a big boy and I won’t be bullied or cowed and I won’t shut up, and frankly the more they attack me, the more I am going to dig. Some may want this buried but I will do all in my power to get to the bottom of it.’
Cllr Codd says that there have been ‘persistent rumours linking the development of sites for the location of state departments in Wexford town to irregularities’ and claims that documents may be produced that prove these rumours.
‘I am demanding that all documents pertaining to these allegations and to the acquisition of these sites be made public immediately,’ he said.
‘As it stands, these rumours are not going to go away and they cast a shadow over our local government as an organisation, and over past members who allowed this issue to remain a secret for nearly two decades.’