THE “disrespectful” treatment of billionaire JP McManus and his family in relation to the gifting of the €30m Irish Rugby Experience (IRE) has exposed serious “dysfunction” within Limerick City and County Council and underlines an urgent need for review.
This was the opinion of outgoing Council Príomh Chomhairleoir Cllr Dan McSweeney at the local authority’s AGM this past Monday.
The Fine Gael man deemed last Thursday’s behind-closed-doors briefing with Mr McManus as one of the “darkest days” he has witnessed in local government level.
During last week’s private meeting, Mr McManus told Council members that he had no intention of proceeding with any further discussions or process with the local authority regarding the proposed gifting of the IRE to the people of Limerick.
He deemed the Council’s conduct around the failed handover of the major landmark building on the city’s main thoroughfare as “mystifying” and “disheartening”.
In his last speech as Príomh Chomhairleoir this week, Cllr Dan McSweeney had some choice words for Council management.
“We heard from a man whose family’s generosity has touched not just every corner of Limerick city and county, but the entire country. To hear such a damning account of how JP McManus and the McManus family’s proposed gift — the International Rugby Experience – to the people of Limerick was handled was deeply upsetting and concerning to me and every member in this chamber,” McSweeney hit out.
“The protracted and disrespectful treatment of the McManus family was nothing short of incredulous. It exposed serious dysfunction within our local authority and underlines the urgent need for review.
“Some of the public commentary on this matter — made by a very small minority in this chamber — showed poor judgement, to say the least,” he chided.
“That said, I want to acknowledge and thank Dr Pat Daly (Council Director General), who showed real leadership and courage in standing up and offering a sincere apology to the McManus family and this chamber. That action must be respected. But we must also recognise that some chose not to show that leadership,” he suggested.
