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Wicklow Councillors refuse to question mangement on police raid- Brady

Sinn Fein councillor John Brady has expressed disappointment in a decision taken by Wicklow councillors not to discuss last weeks Garda raid on the Wicklow County council offices.

Cllr Brady said "At Mondays council meeting I proposed a suspension of standing orders to discuss the recent raid on the council building by the Gardai and the HSA as part of the investigation into the deaths of the Brian Murray and Mark O’Shaughnessy who died fighting a fire in Bray in 2007. I stated that this move by the police was unprecedented and was probably the first time that the police had raided a building at the heart of local democracy in the 26 counties and it warranted a emergency discussion by the council."

Cllr Brady continued "Over 2 years after the deaths of the 2 firemen the 3 separate investigations have still not concluded, 3 people have been arrested as part of the investigation and senior officials of Wicklow county council have been questioned under caution by the police."

"I do not want to predetermine the findings of the investigations, however I feel the council are not as forthcoming with information as they should be. I asked for the suspension so I could ask the county manager was the council cooperating with the investigation and releasing all relevant information as requested by the HSA and the Gardai. It is my duty as a elected public representative to ensure that all aspects of local democracy all accountable and answerable and that includes the civil servants."

"My proposal was seconded by my party colleague John Snell and it was put to a vote of the councillors. Unfortunately the vote was 8 for and 13 against the proposal to hold the council management to account and force the county manager to make a statement on the raid of the County Buildings on Tuesday the 23rd of February by the police. If it transpires that anyone in the council has held back or destroyed information or indeed held up the investigation by non cooperation they should be removed from their positions immediately."