THE COUNCIL expenses ‘mole’ behind a series of leaks about the expenses of Donegal county councillors has made new allegations.
However it’s understood a number of ‘error’s in the allegations have led to the new claims to be dismissed.
A number of councillors have had to fend off allegations – in at least one case, the allegations were completely bogus.
In several others, it’s understood there are ‘valid explanations’ about what happened.
For example, one councillor received payments for events on the same day – but we understand that those payments are made automatically and were not ‘claimed’.
The most high profile target of the mole, Senator Brian O Domhnaill, is currently fighting allegations against him.
The Fianna Fáil Senator has been granted leave to apply for a judicial review regarding an investigation by the Standards in Public Office Commission into expenses claims he made while a member of Donegal County Council.
The investigation is focusing on travel and subsistence claims made by Mr Ó Domhnaill during 2006 and 2007.
The commission was due to begin a public sitting of the investigation last week but this was postponed.
The leave for judicial review is based on a request from Mr Ó Domhnaill that the investigation be carried out in Irish and that documents relating to the investigation be made available to him in Irish.
He says his constitutional rights would be infringed if this occurs.
Mr Ó Domhnaill is also refusing to accept documents provided to him by the commission that he says are based on “anonymous allegations”.
He also strenuously denies the allegations.
No-one knows the identity of the mole behind all the claims; he or she has sent all his/her allegations anonymously.
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