Paul Kiely confirms resignation as director of the CRC

Paul Kiely, the former chief executive of the Central Remedial Clinic, confirmed yesterday he had resigned as a director of the organisation in recent weeks.

Mr Kiely made the disclosure at the Public Accounts Committee. He remained a board member after he had stepped down as chief executive, but resigned as a director on Monday, November 25th, as the controversy over top-up payments escalated. He was told this was the right decision by Independent TD Shane Ross, although the vast majority of the TDs on the Public Accounts Committee called on the entire board to resign in order to allow the organisation to move on.

CRC chairman James Nugent said he would take the opinions of TDs back to the board, which will consider the controversy at a meeting to be held soon.

Mr Ross also questioned Mr Nugent and Mr Kiely on their links to Fianna Fáil, and former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in particular.

A key part of Mr Ahern’s “Drumcondra Mafia”, Mr Kiely was sometimes perceived as the brains of the former taoiseach’s formidable constituency organisation from the 1970s onwards. Mr Nugent also has connections to Fianna Fáil, and told the Mahon tribunal he gave Mr Ahern £2,500 as part of a whip-around.