Two ministers, a wife, a mystery exit, debts and one angry publican ‘left with the f loat’
Friends say controversial appointee to State board is incommunicado
A FORMER Labour councillor appointed to a prestigious State board by a Fine Gael minister has mysteriously ‘ disappeared’ from home, leaving behind a trail of unpaid bills totalling several thousand euro, the Irish Mail on Sunday can reveal.
Pascal Fitzgerald, 54, was appointed to the Irish Aviation Authority last August after he lost his seat on Clare County Council. He was a prominent supporter of Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan and the appointment, by Transport Minister Pascal Donohoe, caused controversy at the time.
Sources have revealed that his businesses owe tens of thousands in rates to Clare County Council from as early as 2008 – calling into question the wisdom of his appointment.
In addition to being a board member, he also serves on the IAA’s audit committee, which oversees the financial affairs of the authority.
Family and former business associates say the only contacts they have had since Mr Fitzgerald left his home on June 19 are phone calls, visits and written correspondence from irate creditors.
Creditors include the Revenue Commissioners, Bord Gáis and a list of food and drink suppliers.
This weekend his wife, Mary, told the MoS that she did not know the whereabouts of her husband. She added: ‘I had no involvement in the running of the business. I was a director in name only.’
Meanwhile, Brendan Wallace, who ran the Woodhouse Cross bar in Cratloe, Co. Clare, with Mr Fitzgerald, revealed he had not been able to contact his associate.
He claims that Mr Fitzgerald emptied a business bank account of about €2,000 before disappearing with an additional €7,000 more in cash takings from the pub.
Mr Wallace said: ‘I knew him for years and I never thought he would do something like this.
‘I felt he was a lovely man, an okay person and never dreamt that something like this would happen.
‘No one can get in touch with him. He is not answering his phone and a lot of people are trying to contact him.
‘All I was left with was a float of €300, no stock and a wad of unpaid bills.’
He added: ‘He lost his seat and he would have got a severance payment. Then he was appointed to the IAA.
‘I was not his business partner. I am doing what I can to keep the Woodhouse Cross open. It is an integral part of the community.
‘Because the suppliers were owed so much, I have to pay for everything on a cash-on-delivery basis and so far so good. It is working out and I hope to keep going.’
Mr Fitzgerald served on Clare County Council for 10 years from 2004. During this time he ran a number of pub and food businesses including the Wuthering Heights pub in Broadford and Munchins Grill takeaway and Pascal’s bar at Westbury Shopping Centre in Corbally on the outskirts of Limerick city. All of these businesses are now being run under new management.
During his tenure on the council, Mr Fitzgerald failed to pay €40,000 in rates for his businesses to the very local authority that paid him expenses to carry out his duties as a public representative.
The council has declined to comment. However, according to a council source, the unpaid rates bill dates back to about 2008-9.
Mr Fitzgerald did not respond to attempts to contact him by either phone or text and the MoS received no reply to a list of written questions forwarded to him by the IAA.
Ms O’Sullivan regularly held constituency clinics at Mr Fitzgerald’s pub in Corbally and when she could not meet her constituents there, he would often deputise for his party colleague.
This weekend, Ms O’Sullivan said she had no involvement in appointing Mr Fitzgerald to the IAA.
Her spokes man said: ‘MsO’ Sullivan didn’t recommend Mr. Fitzgerald for appointment to the board of the IAA and any suggestion to the contrary is wholly inaccurate
‘When Mr. Fitzgerald was a member of Clare County Council, he represented an area that was partly within the Limerick city constituency. Ms O’Sullivan worked with him to represent the citizens of Limerick, including through the organisation of regular advice clinics. We do not have a record of the exact number of clinics held jointly by Ms O’Sullivan and Cllr Fitzgerald.
‘The first time Ms O’Sullivan became aware of any allegations in relation to Mr Fitzgerald was in early July. It is a matter for Mr. Fitzgerald to respond to allegations in relation to his personal and business affairs.’
When the MoS asked Mr Donohoe about the wisdom of appointing and retaining Mr Fitzgerald, a spokesman replied: ‘The minister understands from the IAA that Mr Fitzgerald has an excellent attendance record at meetings and has fulfilled all his duties as a board member. Further, the appointment process for all appointees includes a provision requiring confirmation of tax compliance by the prospective appointee.
Since his appointment in August 2014, Mr. Fitzgerald has attended two board meetings and one audit committee meeting. He has received €5,000 in fees.
A spokesman for the IAA said: ‘Mr. Fitzgerald has attended all board meetings except for one. ‘Appointments to the board of the IAA are made by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in consultation with the Minister for Public Enterprise and Reform. We have passed on all your queries to Mr. Fitzgerald today. We have no further comments on this matter.’
‘I never thought he’d do
something like this’ ‘He has an excellent attendance record’