A Fine Gael disciplinary committee examining adverse findings made in the final report of the Mahon tribunal against two of its members has cleared one and called for the removal of the whip for another.
In a statement released tonight the party said having considered the tribunal’s findings against Olivia Mitchell TD she should be “exonerated of any complaint”.
It said while “it was inappropriate in light of what we now know for the then-councillor Mitchell to accept the donation in question, her actions have not brought the party into disrepute.
“She is exonerated of any complaint, and remains a member of the party, in high standing,” the statement added.
The Mahon report found that Ms Mitchell received an “inappropriate’’ election donation of IR£500 from lobbyist Frank Dunlop in 1992. It also found that Ms Mitchell had not solicited the donation.
In the case of Councillor Therese Ridge the committee said it “was injudicious and unwise” for her to have accepted the donation in question and said her relationship with Frank Dunlop “severely compromised her role as a public representative.”
“Failure to declare an interest and abstention on votes was also wholly inappropriate and damaging to the interests of Fine Gael.”
Ms Ridge was on Dublin County Council when Mr Dunlop was lobbying for the rezoning of land at Quarryvale, now the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, and had supported the development. She received £1,000 from Mr Dunlop and he also discharged some of her election expenses. The tribunal described the payments as “entirely improper”.
The committee decided to remove the party whip from Ms Ridge and called on her to resign within a week from all committees associated with her role as a public representative.
Councillor Ridge may appeal within 30 days.
Ms Mitchell later said she was pleased but unsurprised by the committee’s decision given that the tribunal’s opinion was formed “with the benefit of hindsight and in the light of information about Mr Dunlop and his activities which was unknown both to me and the general public at that time”.