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Council begin probe over rent collection Wednesday, 5th March, 2014. Vol. 7, Issue 10 • 63 Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth. Tel: 042 9320888. Fax: 042 9329676. Email: editorial@dundalkleader.com; advertising@dundalkleader.com
By Niamh Kirk
A member of staff has been suspended and an internal investigation has been opened in Dundalk Town Council after it emerged that there were serious irregularities in rent collection in the local authorities. The irregularities emerged when a pensioner was sent a letter from the housing department stating that they were in arrears to the sum of €2,500. However the tenant in question had kept detailed receipts of all payments and could prove that rent was fully up to date. The irregularities came to light late last week and the local authorities issued a statement in response. They said that the incident was
related to a specific location and that as well as the staff suspension and internal investigation, Gardaí had been notified. Paddy Donnelly of Louth County Council has assured the relevant tenants that they will not be adversely affected “As the matter is currently the subject of an internal investigation and has been notified to the Gardaí the council will be making no further statement or comment at this time,” he added. In response a number of local councillors voiced their complaints that not enough was being done to inform or support concerned tenants. Initially the council declined to offer information as to where Continued on Page 12
Jonny on volunteer trip to Chernobyl
Rose of Tralee Escort of the Year Jonny McGailey from Dundalk has just returned from Vesnova Children’s Mental Asylum in Belarus where he was volunteering with Adi Roche’s Chernobyl Children International. Jonny was accompanied by the 2013 Rose of Tralee Haley O’Sullivan and 14 other Roses from around the world. While in the children’s asylum, Jonny and the Roses helped care for some of the 170 kids in the asylum who have a variety of physical and mental disabilities. Many of the children are still being born with terrible deformities and illnesses as a result of Continued on Page 8
Jonny McGailey with Vasia, a child from Vesnova Childrens Mental Asylum, Belarus