Pressure on McEniff land rezoning denied

A relative of Donegal businessman Brian McEniff has denied he was asked, or in any way pressurised, to rezone coastal conservation land owned by the prominent hotelier for housing.

Bundoran town councillor Philip McGlynn (FF) has supported an application to rezone eight hectares of land, the majority of which is owned by his brother-in-law and employer Mr McEniff.

Mr McGlynn is one of three councillors on the nine-seat local authority who is related to Mr McEniff, owner of a number of hotels including the Great Northern Hotel in Bundoran.

Elizabeth McIntyre (FF), Mr McEniff's niece, also voted to begin the rezoning process.

His brother, Seán McEniff (FF), was on holiday when the vote was taken at a council meeting earlier this week.

The vote initiates the rezoning process by putting the plans for a change of use of the land from coastal conservation to residen-tial to public consultation.

The land is part of a scenic walk stretching 8km from Roguey headland to Tullan strand north of Bundoran town.

Mr McEniff has previously sought planning permission to build 30 houses on the land but was turned down on appeal to An Bord Pleanála.

Mr McGlynn said he had done nothing wrong in participating in the vote and had come under no influence to vote in any direction. "There was no pressure, absolutely not, I am my own man."

He said he did not think he should have abstained from the vote, given his relationship to the applicant, because he had been elected to represent the people of Bundoran.

"I broke no rules in any shape or form. I did everything under the ethics of the council, and I have had legal advice on that. And why should I abstain from voting? I was elected to the council to do a job."

Also denying any wrongdoing, Ms McIntyre said: "This issue has arisen a few times over the last number of years and my ethics have never been called into question."

However, Fine Gael councillor Denise Connolly who submitted that neither of Mr McEniff's relatives should vote said they had acted against the code of conduct of the council.

"The code of conduct asks that we act and are seen to act in the common good and as far as I'm concerned this was developer led and not in the common good."

Ms Connolly said she was not accusing either councillor of corruption, but said to protect their own integrity they should have abstained. "They should have walked away and had nothing to do with this."

Mr Brian McEniff said he would make a statement next week on return from Tenerife.