COUNCIL SPENT €1.6M ON LEGAL FEES IN 2016
WICKLOW County Council spent €1.695 million on legal fees during 2016.
A breakdown includes €205,000 on Housing, €390,000 on roads, €123,000 on the environment, €484,000 on planning, €21,000 on community and enterprise, €387,000 on corporate services, €60,000 on finance and €23,000 on water.
Cllr Michael O’Connor requested a full-break down of the costs involved in the council’s failed attempt to evict TD John Brady and his family from their council home.
Cllr Joe Behan said it appeared that around €500,000 was spent on court cases against either present or former elected members.
‘ There have been cases against John Brady, Tommy Cullen, Barry Nevin and Deirdre de Burca. One case was settled, one was lost. I think we require a greater deal of explanation over €500,000 of tax payers money being spent on battling sitting or former councillors. I would also like a comment from the chief executive on why the case against Brady was taken and why the case was settled in relation to de Burca.’