Fianna Fáil councillor Jerry O'Dea has confirmed he approached gardaí about the status of a car crash he was involved in before he was elected Metropolitan Mayor of Limerick, but has denied he tried to influence the investigation.
There has been growing pressure on the Mayor from across the political divide, including from Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, to make a fuller statement on the circumstances surrounding a collision he was involved in last December.
He has been asked to step aside from his position until an internal Garda inquiry into the handling of the case of the car crash has concluded.
Sinn Féin Cllr Maurice Quinlivan urged Cllr O’Dea to temporarily hand over his chains of office while the matter is investigated.
In his latest statement on the matter, Cllr O’Dea confirmed he inquired about the status of the traffic incident before he was elected Mayor last June.
“Before I was elected Mayor of the Metropolitan District of Limerick, I inquired about the status of the accident. I understood that there would be no proceedings in relation to this matter,” he said.
‘Not put to bed’
Cllr Quinlivan welcomed Cllr O’Dea’s latest statement but believes the matter has not yet been “put to bed”.
“While I welcome the further statement from Mayor O’Dea I think he should step aside and hand over his duties of mayor to his deputy Cllr Shane Clifford, whilst the Garda investigation is ongoing,” he said.
“I would hope the internal Garda investigation is completed quickly and efficiently and thoroughly, and we can put this situation to bed. I believe it has damaged the office of mayor and the situation needs to be resolved,” Cllr Quinlivan added.
The leader of Sinn Féin on Limerick and City County Council said he was not calling for Cllr O'Dea's resignation. He also called for the outcome of the Garda investigation to be made public.
“People have a deep concern as to why there was no prosecution, and I emphasise there is a presumption of innocence here, the Mayor might have done nothing wrong, and that’s why the Garda investigation is crucially important and it needs to be done as fast as possible and as thorough as possible - and the results of that need to be published because people’s confidence in the gardaí is under threat,” he continued.
Original statement
In his original statement on the issue, Mr O’Dea had said he was informed in early May 2015 there would be no action against him in respect of the crash and said he considered the matter closed.
However, that statement did not explain the exact nature of the crash or the Garda involvement.
Nor did it explain the manner in which he was informed there would be no action against him.
In a statement issued to the Limerick Leader newspaper on Wednesday, Mr O’Dea said he regretted the incident and unreservedly apologised for any controversy caused.
“In response to calls to make a clarifying statement, I want to confirm that I was involved in a road traffic accident in December 2014. I was driving my own car and was alone when I had to swerve to avoid another car. My car overturned and the gardaí and fire brigade attended the scene. No one was injured in this accident apart from myself,” he stated.
Mr O’Dea said he co-operated with gardaí at all times.
‘Co-operated fully’
“I want to reiterate and emphasise that I co-operated fully with the gardaí at all times and that I made no effort to influence the gardaí whatsoever.
“I now understand an internal Garda investigation is ongoing and this should be allowed to be completed. I very much regret the incident and unreservedly apologise for any controversy caused,” the statement continued.
An internal Garda inquiry is now under way into why no summons or court proceedings followed the crash.
A meeting of the Fianna Fáil members of Limerick City and County Council took place in Limerick on Wednesday night to discuss the continuing controversy.
It is understood councillors were informed at the meeting that Mr O’Dea would not be considering his position.