THREE whistleblowers who alerted authorities about misleading statements concerning severance payments of more than €1.2 million have been paid €150,000 by their former employers at the University of Limerick.
An internal audit showed that there were unauthorised payments, breaches in procurement and inappropriate spending at the university.
Leona O’Callaghan, the only one of the three to waive anonymity, was paid €60,000, having initially refused an offer of €150,000 and a pension.
“Despite how blowing the whistle ruined my life, I wouldn’t change a thing,” she said in a recent interview.
The other two staff involved also received payments and had their suspensions lifted but it is not known of they have returned to UL.
