People of Sligo ‘suffering’ from Lissadell battle
THE people of Sligo are still suffering from the aftermath of the protracted legal battle at Lissadell.
That’s according to Councillor Hubert Keaney, who was giving his reaction to the Lissadell legal bill of ¤3.68million at the annual budget meeting last week.
Chief Executive Ciarán Hayes told members the bill was likely to change but not increase.
He said both sides will begin negotiations on the final figure. Given the “scale and complexity” of the case, he said a final decision was not likely to be known until late 2018 or early 2019.
The bill will be paid for thanks to a windfall owed to the Council by their insurer, Irish Public Bodies (IPB).
Cathaoirleach Councillor Seamus Kilgannon said he was “happy that the long running issue is now nearing an end and with closure on this issue, together with the planned infrastructural developments, Sligo can now look forward to a period of growth.”
Councillor Hubert Keaney said he couldn’t say it was a good news day for Sligo.
“There has to be lessons learned from this in how we conduct our business,” he said.
“Sligo and the people are suffering,” he said.
He said that when other local authorities could use their IPB refunds on their towns, Sligo was having to pay barristers and legal eagles in Dublin “over a folly.” “Sligo is the loser. I don’t care what way you want to brush it up. It’s not a good day for Sligo,” he added.
Cllr Seamus Kilgannon said that at least the bill was not going to be “near the cost that we were led to believe.”
“OK, Irish Public Bodies is coming to the rescue but I believe in looking at the glass half full.
“I believe in this case we’re not doing too bad. Those of us who were here when that famous decision was made would do it differently today but that’s history now,” he told members.
Ciarán Hayes reiterated that the bill would not increase and that the ¤3.68million figure was “the maximum exposure of the Council.”
He said the book of costs ran to 600 pages and both sides would be given time to read it, after which they would enter into negotiations. He said they also had the option of referring the case to the Taxing Master if they couldn’t agree on a final figure.
“This might delay the process and it will be lengthy,” he said.