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The Journal
16-06-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Former Meath councillor says rezoning allegations ‘tortured' him and ended his career
A FORMER CHAIRPERSON of Meath County Council has claimed he has been 'tortured' for six years and lost his livelihood over allegations about the rezoning of lands in Navan, Co Meath, in which two of his sons have an interest. Former Fianna Fáil councillor Tommy Reilly told an inquiry held by the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) that he had been lambasted by 'a certain group of political people' on Facebook, which had devastated him and his standing in his community. Reilly, who had been a councillor since 1996, lost his seat in the Navan electoral area in last year's local elections, when he was the outgoing chairperson of Meath County Council. He told the SIPO hearing that last year was the first time in 63 years that he was asked not to canvas during elections because his name had been 'dragged through the mud.' The inquiry heard that a 35-acre site at Liscarton on the outskirts of Navan, which is owned by Reilly's son, Ciaran, had a purchase price of €500,000 in August 2016. However, the same site had an asking price of €4.2 million when it was placed on the market after being rezoned the following year (although the land was not sold). Two of Reilly's sons, Ciarán and Tomás, are directors of Royal Active Business Solutions – the company which owns the lands. Reilly is facing four allegations of breaching legislation governing the conduct of elected representatives. One of the allegations Reilly faces is that he failed to declare a conflict of interest at a number of council meetings between July 2016 and May 2017, over the fact that one or more of his sons had an interest in lands that were under consideration for being rezoned, contrary to the Local Government Act 2001. The former councillor was also accused of failing to disclose the nature of the interest of family members in the Liscarton site at a special planning meeting of the council on 19 July 2017, although he did withdraw from the meeting on the basis that he had a conflict of interest. He is also accused of failing to maintain proper standards of integrity, conduct and concern for the public interest, and acting in a manner inconsistent with the proper performance and duties of a councillor. Reilly gave evidence that he first learned about his son Ciaran's interest in the lands at Liscarton while in his bedroom in early July 2017. He said his son had asked him how he would go about making a submission on a development, but he replied that he could have nothing to do with it. 'I took no action,' he added. The inquiry heard the witness attended a special planning meeting of Meath County Council about two weeks later on 19 July 2017, which he left after declaring he had a conflict of interest. Reilly told his counsel, Dáithí MacCárthaigh BL, that he should have explained his conflict of interest, but said that in 30 years in politics, he had heard people excusing themselves from meetings without ever being asked why. Reilly said that he had never been asked by anyone to elaborate on his own declared conflict of interest. Advertisement He stressed that he himself had no interest in the lands. Reilly said his son had many business interests, of which he knew very little or nothing about. He believed that once he had declared a conflict of interest, he had fulfilled his obligations and did not believe at the time that he had to update his ethics register. 'I find it all very confusing,' he told the hearing. Swearing by his six grandchildren, he stressed that he never mentioned the lands in Liscarton to anybody. Reilly's cross-examination by counsel for SIPO, Mark Curran BL was dominated by tetchy exchanges – including when he was asked how he would know about any potential conflict of interest if he did not know about his son's business. Reilly said he was familiar with his obligations to make declarations about his interests but did not know about 'connected persons.' 'My son was involved. I knew that much. Was that not enough,' he replied. He added: 'As far as I was concerned, I was 100% right in what I did and it ends there,' he retorted. Reilly said he was asked by his son to attend what he termed an 'explanatory planning meeting' in March 2018, and did not believe there was anything appropriate in him doing so. He said he disagreed with the view of the former chief executive of Meath County Council, Jackie Maguire, that it had been unwise for him to have attended the meeting. Reilly told the hearing that he 'wasn't too happy' when he discovered his own name was listed on a planning application in relation to the Liscarton lands, and 'attacked' his son over it. In other evidence, Ciaran Reilly confirmed he first became interested in purchasing the lands at Liscarton as an investment opportunity in mid-2016. He denied that he was not originally listed as a director in the company that purchased the land in order to keep his family name hidden. His brother, Tomás Reilly, said he was asked to become a director of the company by his brother but did not talk to his brother about business. Tomás Reilly said his brother did not talk to him about the purchase of the lands at Liscarton or why he was asked to be a director. He said he had 'no understanding' why the company records showed it owed him €15,368 since 2018, and had never discussed why he was owed the amount with his brother. He confirmed he was still a director of the firm, but has no shareholding in it. At the conclusion of the inquiry, the chairperson of the six-person Commission, Justice Garrett Sheehan, said it would announce its findings at a later date. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Ex-Meath Council chair Tommy Reilly in SIPO probe after rezoned lands linked to son rose in value from €500,000 to €4.2m
Former Fianna Fáil councillor, Tommy Reilly, appeared before an inquiry held by the ethics in public office watchdog to face four allegations that he breached legislation governing the conduct of elected representatives. The allegations were announced at the opening of the inquiry by the Standards in Public Office Commission on Friday. They relate to claims that Mr Reilly failed to declare a conflict of interest at a number of council meetings between July 2016 and May 2017 over the fact that one or more of his sons had an interest in lands that were under consideration for being rezoned. Counsel for SIPO, Mark Curran BL, said the councillor's failure to declare the nature of his sons' interest in lands at Liscarton, Co Navan and his failure to withdraw from such meetings constituted breaches of the Local Government Act 2001. Mr Reilly, who lost his seat in the Navan electoral area in last year's local elections when he was the outgoing chairperson of Meath County Council, was also accused of failing to disclose the nature of the interest of family members in the Liscarton site at a special planning meeting of the council on July 19, 2017, although he did withdraw from the meeting on the basis that he had a conflict of interest. The former councillor was also accused of contravening the Local Government Act 2001 by failing to maintain proper standards of integrity, conduct and concern for the public interest in his function as a member of Meath County councillor in his dealings on the Liscarton lands. A fourth allegation related to a 'specified act' by claims he acted in a manner inconsistent with the proper performance and duties of a councillor or with the maintenance of public confidence in his performance. Three other allegations were withdrawn by SIPO at the start of the inquiry on foot of an application by counsel for Mr Reilly, Dáithí MacCárthaigh BL. The inquiry heard Mr Reilly claims he only became aware that his son, Ciaran, had an interest in the Liscarton site around two weeks before the special planning meeting on July 19, 2017. However, Mr Curran told the hearing that it was clear that Ciaran Reilly had some involvement in July 2016 with the company that bought the lands, Royal Active Business Solutions. An earlier inquiry by Meath County Council found that the councillor had inadvertently broken ethics rules for not updating his register of interests. The rezoning of a 35-acre site at Liscarton resulted in its value increasing from the purchase price of €500,000 in August 2016 to €4.2m after it was rezoned the following year. Another son, Tomás Reilly, also subsequently became a shareholder in the company which purchased the lands. The SIPO inquiry arose out of a complaint filed by the then chief executive of Meath County Council, Jackie Maguire, in March 2022. Ms Maguire told the hearing that councillors would be reminded at the start of meetings of their obligation to disclose any potential conflict of interest. When asked about the matter, she said Mr Reilly stated explicitly to her that he had no interest in the Liscarton lands. Ms Maguire said the councillor told her that he was unsure when and where he should have declared his knowledge about a 'connected person' with the site. A record of their meeting shows Mr Reilly denied contacting any other councillor about the lands or trying to influence them. The inquiry heard that council records showed Mr Reilly attended a council meeting in December 2014 at which he requested an update about the Liscarton lands. However, Mr MacCárthaigh interjected to state that it was actually a reference to a different site in the area. A consultant engineer, Eamon Collins, admitted to the inquiry that he had made a mistake in listing Tommy Reilly as the applicant for planning permission for the Liscarton lands after they had attended a pre-planning meeting of the council in March 2018. Mr Collins explained that his client was Ciaran Reilly. The hearing was adjourned and will resume on Monday when it is expected to conclude.
Irish Independent
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Former Meath councillor Tommy Reilly faces two-day SIPO hearing
The rescheduled investigation will examine 'alleged contraventions of the Local Government Act 2001 and the Code of Conduct for Councillors by Mr Tommy Reilly, former Councillor of Meath County Council," according to a statement from SIPO. SIPO, established in 2001, is an independent and non-partisan body tasked with ensuring compliance with several key pieces of legislation, including the Ethics in Public Office Acts, the Electoral Act 1997, the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Act 2014, and the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015. The upcoming hearing follows a previous ethics investigation by Meath County Council into Cllr Reilly's involvement in the rezoning of a 35-acre site in Liscarton, on the outskirts of Navan. The land, owned by his son, saw its value rise from €500,000 to €4.2m after it was rezoned in 2017. Cllr Reilly had declared a conflict of interest at the time and did not participate in the council vote on the rezoning in July 2017. The rezoning and surrounding events were later highlighted in a detailed report by journalist Frank Connolly for The Village magazine. Following that, Jackie Maguire, the chief executive of Meath County Council at the time carried out a review of Cllr Reilly's role. The hearing will take place today and om Monday, June 16.
RTÉ News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Ex-Fianna Fáil councillor SIPO hearing begins today
Former Meath County Councillor Tommy Reilly is to face a two-day Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) investigation hearing that will get under way this morning. The public ethics watchdog has said the rescheduled investigation hearing into "contraventions of the Local Government Act 2001 and the Code of Conduct for Councillors by Mr Tommy Reilly, former Councillor of Meath County Council" will take place today and on Monday. Asked about the nature of the investigation hearing, a spokesperson for SIPO said: "The background for this investigation hearing will be made clear at the outset of the hearing." Mr Reilly lost his seat on Meath County Council in the local elections in June of last year. Mr Reilly, who was the outgoing cathaoirleach of the council at the time, had held a seat in the Navan Local Electoral Area for Fianna Fáil for 27 years. Meath County Council previously carried out an internal investigation into a potential breach of ethical rules by the then councillor. The investigation related to a plot of land on the outskirts of Navan that increased eightfold in value after being rezoned. The investigation was launched after the local authority became aware of Mr Reilly's connection to the 35-acre site at Liscarton as it was owned by his son. The site was bought for €500,000 in 2016, rezoned by the council the following year and then went on the market for €4.2 million. The investigation by the council found that while Mr Reilly had excused himself from the vote which reclassified the land, he "inadvertently" broke ethical rules by not "updating his register of interests". However, the then Fianna Fáil councillor believed he acted in good faith and that he had met his statutory and ethical obligations by disclosing a conflict of interest and absenting himself from consideration of the particular matter at a council meeting in July 2017. A report on the matter was completed by Meath County Council in October 2020 and included a review of the council's processes, the rezoning of the land and the resulting planning application, as well as an interview with Mr Reilly. The council found that, according to the information available, no disciplinary action was warranted. The investigation hearing by SIPO due to begin today has been rescheduled on two previous occasions. Last November, the public ethics watchdog said that the hearing had been adjourned "due to issues with the availability of Commissioners." Members of the media and the public wishing to attend the hearing today and on Monday can only do so virtually online. A spokesperson for SIPO said the reason for this was in order to be "fair and accommodate all interested parties." "This way, we can ensure all interested persons can view the proceedings equally, due to limited availability to accommodate in person attendance," the spokesperson said.
Irish Examiner
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Ethics watchdog opens hearing into Cork TD Ken O'Flynn's comments in 2021 radio interview
The public ethics watchdog has opened a hearing into radio interview comments and social media posts relating to the Traveller community made by Cork North Central Independent Ireland TD Ken O'Flynn when he was a city councillor. The Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo) heard an outline of the allegations against him on Monday morning, and heard a preliminary application from Mr O'Flynn's legal team, as it seeks to determine if the comments and posts contravene the Local Government Act 2001, and various sections of the Code of Conduct for Councillors, and therefore warrants a full investigation. The Sipo investigation was triggered following a complaint about comments Mr O'Flynn made on Cork's RedFM in 2021 in relation to the Spring Lane halting site at Ballyvolane. A complaint about the comments to the council's ethics registrar was dismissed, and following a complaint to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, it said the interview lacked balance and had the effect of stigmatising residents of the halting site. Another complaint was made to Sipo and at Monday's preliminary hearing, Sipo's legal representative, Conor Feeney BL, outlined the three key allegations against Mr O'Flynn to the six-person commission, chaired by Garrett Sheehan. The first relates to comments Mr O'Flynn made during the RedFM interview on June 16, 2021, in relation to a report by the Children's Ombudsman into the appalling conditions facing children at the Spring Lane halting site, including the comment: 'What are they now? An ethnic minority?' Mr Feeney said it was alleged Mr O'Flynn contravened the Local Government Act 2001 and in so doing failed to maintain proper standards of integrity, conduct and concern for the public interest. It is alleged he did not keep faith with the public trust, did not observe the highest ethical standards in the performance of his role as a councillor, did not act in a way that enhances public trust and confidence, did not act in a way that serves the local authority and its people conscientiously, honestly and impartially. It is further alleged he did not act in a way that promotes equality and avoids bias, did not seek to ensure his conduct did not bring the integrity of his office or of local government into distribute, and did not act in a matter that maintains proper standards of integrity, integrity and concern for the public interest, all of which are in breach of various sections of the Code of Conduct for Councillors. Mr Feeney said the second allegation relates to Mr O'Flynn's conduct on a Facebook social media account in his name. It is alleged he published and/or authorised the publication of statements demonstrating a biased view of members of the Traveller community, and that he failed to monitor and/or remove comments exhibiting bias towards the Traveller community and other minority groups, including those of an inflammatory and derogatory nature which were made in reply to his statements. It is alleged he expressly endorsed those comments by using the 'like' feature on Facebook. Mr Feeney alleged this was a breach of Section 168 of the Local Government Act 2001 in that he failed to maintain proper standards of integrity, conduct and concern for the public interest, and that this was also a breach of several sections of the Code of Conduct for Councillors. An additional breach was it contravened a specified section in relation to the unacceptable use or misuse of social media in relation to content that promotes, fosters or perpetuates discrimination on the basis of gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, disability age race religious beliefs or membership of the travelling communities. And finally, Mr Feeney said the combination of the first two allegations collectively amounted to specified act within the meaning of Section 4 of the Standards of Public Office Act 2001. Mr O'Flynn's barrister, Brian Leahy BL, instructed by Ronan Deasy Solicitor, gave various grounds for dismissing a Sipo investigation, arguing the radio interview was not part of the statutory duties of a city councillor, and his comments on the Ombudsman report were "fair comment". He said the interview was wide-ranging, but started with the housing issue, a serious problem for everyone in society, but especially the Traveller community. 'We have a problem with housing in the Travelling community, we have a problem with housing in the whole community, we can either ignore that, and not talk about it, or try and come up with a solution,' he said. 'And I say that's what Mr O'Flynn was doing. 'Did he step on people's toes? Absolutely. And isn't right that we step on people's toes. 'Isn't it right that we say 'I disagree with you, and here's why' because if we stop that, what is the use of political debate?" He said Mr O'Flynn has had more than 400,000 Facebook interactions over the years, and some of the posts referred to in this complaint were published before updated guidance for politicians on social media use. He highlighted the right to free expression, urging caution of any investigation into comments in the political sphere. 'If the State, through the commission are going to interfere with someone's right to free expression in the political sphere, it needs to be very much balanced in the favour of the person who has expressed an opinion,' he said. 'In the 1980s, you wouldn't criticise the Catholic Church. Now you can criticise the Catholic Church. And it's important that we do criticise organs of the State. 'But if we are constantly looking over our shoulders and saying 'I can't x, y or z, or believe I can't say', we don't get to talk about what we need to talk about. 'If we stop communicating, we end up with Brexit and Trump.' The commission adjourned to listen to the radio interview, and when chairperson Mr Sheehan returned, he asked where was the cut-off point between freedom of speech and offensive speech of a type that needed to be constrained, if there should be a higher threshold for politicians in relation to that, where does the function of a councillor end, and if the Facebook comments were still online. Mr Leahy said Mr O'Flynn did not believe he had caused offence, but if he had, he did not intend it, and he apologises. He said Mr O'Flynn's husband, two members of staff and a PR company would have had access to his social media accounts, but after the complaint was made, and on reflection, the 'offending' comments were 'unliked'. There was extensive legal argument, with Mr Feeney concluding by telling the commission it now had to consider if the matters were of a sufficient degree of gravity to warrant a full investigation, to consider if certain elements of the complaint were removed, did that render the remainder of the complaint 'frivolous', and if certain allegations were to removed, was there sufficient evidence to sustain a complaint. The commission has now adjourned to determine whether a full investigation into Mr O'Flynn's conduct will follow. The commission has also been told Mr O'Flynn intended to make an application for his costs.
