The chief executive of Longford County Council has admitted he contravened ethics rules when he failed to disclose in writing his ownership of a property purchased with State funds.
Tim Caffrey is appearing before a public hearing of the Standards in Public Office Commission after it emerged he owned a house that was bought by the Department of the Environment for €259,000.
In his evidence to the hearing, Mr Caffrey said this was an “inadvertent” breach of the Ethical Framework for the Local Government Service. He insisted he was unaware of the technical requirement to make the disclosure in writing and claimed he had notified the appropriate staff members of Longford County Council of his ownership of the property in an “open and transparent manner”.
Mr Caffrey said he had always sought to comply with best practice and with ethics rules but simply “did not know” he must notify the chair of Longford County Council. He said: “Therefore it is a matter of deep personal embarrassment that I did not comply with this section of the Ethical Framework.”
The public hearing centres on claims Mr Caffrey failed to declare his ownership of a property bought with funds from the Department of the Environment.
SIPO’s investigation began in November 2013 and centred on allegations that Longford County Council was approved a grant from the Department of the Environment to buy a home in Clondra, Co Longford. The grant of €259, 000 was to be given to the voluntary housing body, the Muiriosa Foundation, to buy the property owned by Mr Caffrey.
Mr Caffrey has claimed he declared his interest in the house before the council applied for the grant to members of the council and in his annual declaration of property interests.
However, he admitted he did not notify the chair of the Council in writing before the funding was sought and granted by the Department. Mr Caffrey said: “I take full responsibility for my failure. I want to express my admiration and integrity of the long service staff members and elected members of Longford County Council. My mistake is my mistake and not that of anyone else.”
Mr Caffrey said he should have been aware of the obligation after his 40 years of service and his nine and a half years as chief executive of Longford County Council.
Sipo says this is an alleged contravention of the Ethical Framework for the Local Government Service. The Commission is now to assess whether this was done intentionally, negligently or maliciously. It must also determine to whether this breach was of a minor or a serious nature. The sale of the property was not completed.
The hearing has now concluded and the Commission will now compile a report with its findings.
