A COUNCILLOR in Drogheda has claimed that shortly after he was elected last year he was approached by a “consultant” who said there would be “a fee” for him if he voted a particular way in relation to a matter due to be debated at a later date by Drogheda Borough Council.
The allegation was made by Cllr Frank Gallagher at the monthly meeting of the council this week as councillors debated a motion that they should publish their salaries and expenses online, so they would be available to the public.
Mr Gallagher, a member of the Socialist Party, was elected for the first time last June and began his contribution to the debate by saying: “I had a curious experience three days before my first council meeting”.
He said “a consultant” had called to him and “asked me to vote” a particular way and “he made it clear to me that a fee would be involved”.
Mr Gallagher said: “I did, of course, vote the opposite.”
He added he would be “more interested in seeing those type of fees detailed”.
Mayor Michael O’Dowd (FG) said the Garda should be informed of such an event adding “that’s a crime to try and buy a vote”.
The motion under debate was proposed by Cllr Gerald Nash (Labour) “in order to make this legitimate information available and more accessible to the general public in the interests of greater openness and transparency”.
It got unanimous support.
Speaking afterwards, Mr Gallagher said he did not inform the Garda about the alleged incident as the consultant led him to believe that he was politically well connected and Mr Gallagher felt there would not be any point in reporting it.
A spokesperson for the Department of the Environment said: “It is an offence under the Public Bodies Corrupt Practices Act 1889 (as amended) to offer a bribe to a person in a public body.
“As it is a criminal offence, it is a matter for the gardaí to investigate the complaint which should be made by the person concerned. It is not an issue for the local authority, but one for An Garda Síochána.”