Funds misuse at Galway council investigated

Gardaí are investigating two separate reports of funds being misappropriated at Galway County Council.

Gardaí are investigating two separate reports of funds being misappropriated at Galway County Council.

A file is expected to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions shortly in one of the cases, which involves allegations made against a sitting member of the council.

The mayor of Co Galway, Cllr Willie Burke (Ind), warned that the "full rigours of the law" would apply if any wrongdoing was found. However, he said he could not comment until the Garda investigation had been completed.

The mayor said he had every confidence in the management and staff at Galway County Council.

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The allegations against the councillor date back several years but were only reported to the Garda in recent months by the council.

It is understood that an internal investigation by local authority management focused on the misuse of State-funded contracting work.

A Garda spokesman said that the investigation by Mill Street station in the city was coming to a conclusion.

A separate inquiry relates to a missing sum of money from another section of Galway County Council, the Garda spokesman said.

The funds, which may amount to several thousand euro, were reported missing recently. The investigation is continuing.

Lorna Siggins

Lorna Siggins

Lorna Siggins is the former western and marine correspondent of The Irish Times