Former Roscommon chairman Stephen Banahan has denied he ever benefited financially from his involvement in the GAA, a week after it was revealed that over €60,000 was transferred to his company from county board funds.
In a detailed statement read out by acting chairman Michael Maguire to last night's county board meeting, Banahan said "My company, BLSB Ltd, was used as a facility for the county board."
Although he did not elaborate on how this facility operated, Banahan broke his silence to say he had "no monies belonging to the county board or owe anything to Roscommon County Board".
A Croke Park report into the county's €1.4 million financial crisis last week revealed that over €60,000 made its way into the accounts of BLSB Ltd from the board, but specified that the money had been repaid in full.
Banahan said he wished to issue the statement to "defend my family, my business and myself". He claimed that despite the Croke Park report being published this week, he got a copy of it only yesterday morning.
"All monies transferred from the county board to this account (BLSB Ltd) have been transferred back and neither my company nor myself made any gain from these transactions," he said. He added that some people did not seem to accept this version of events.
"In hindsight, I admit that I could have done things in a different way," he said.
He was also unhappy that his other company, BLSB Timper Products Ltd, was mentioned in media reports, although this is "totally separate to BLSB Ltd".
Banahan cited 24½ years of service to the county board, and "I am sure that nobody can say that they have ever seen an expenses claim sheet belonging to me for my services.
"I am not looking for praise or to pass the buck," he said. "I will accept my fair share of criticism where it is deserved from those who have given their fair share of service to the board.
"I have at all times treated people fairly and with respect, and if there are people who have a grievance unknown to me, they now surely have their pound of flesh.
"I would hope that this statement brings to a close any speculation involving my company and Roscommon County Board. I appeal to those in the press and elsewhere to allow me the privacy I deserve after issuing this statement."
Maguire banned any discussion on the statement at last night's meeting, which was called to deal with routine matters.
Banahan did not attend the meeting, but his statement said he would continue to work for his club, Kilbride.
The statement was not greeted with applause, although one delegate got some applause for an attack on a local journalist.
County board treasurer Dominic Connolly did not attend the meeting, and secretary Frank Dennehy tendered an apology on Connolly's behalf.
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