Louth has joint lowest rate of collection of commercial rates in the country

The offices of Louth County Council

Louth County Council has the joint lowest rate of collecting commercial rates in the country, according to new figures.

It and Limerick City Council collected just 55% of commercial rates each in 2012, with auditors for Louth County Council saying that the decline in collection is “a serious matter for the council to address.”

In total, local authorities around the country failed to collect over €355 million in rates in 2012, with businesses struggling to pay for them due to a fall in business.

The figures for Louth and Limerick City do not reflect well on former County Manager Conn Murray who was located in both areas in 2012, starting the year in Louth before leaving to take up his new role on Shannonside midway through the year.

Sharkey could look for investigation into Murray’s appointments in Louth

Conn Murray

Former Louth County Manager Conn Murray has come under plenty of fire in recent months for various appointments he has made in his new position in Limerick but an investigation into his appointments here could also be on the horizon.

The appointment of his best man Dr Pat Daly to a senior managerial role in Limerick City Council without an interview was heavily criticised before Christmas. Prior to that Mr Murray had previously been accused of cronyism over his appointment of Patricia Ryan to the position of CEO of the Limerick City of Culture 2014 body.

Ms Ryan’s resignation yesterday has dominated much of today’s headlines but one local councillor could be set to call for an investigation into Mr Murray’s past appointments in Louth.

Commenting on his Twitter feed last night, Sinn Féin’s Cllr Tomás Sharkey said: “Limerick City Manager was once County Manager in Louth. We probably need to check records for cronyism during that time.”

If Cllr Sharkey or Sinn Féin are to pursue the matter it is likely to be at the monthly meeting of the council later this month.

Mr Murray served as County Manager in Louth for five years prior to his departure in the summer of 2012. Last year he was replaced by Philomena Poole.

Cllr Sharkey’s Tweet suggesting he may seek an investigation into appointments made by Conn Murray during his five year tenure as Louth County Manager

Previously: Former Louth County Manager under fire after appointing his best man to a plum post in Limerick

Former Louth County Manager under fire after appointing his best man to a plum post in Limerick

Former Louth County Manager Conn Murray came under fire at the weekend for appointing the best man at his wedding to a €98,000-a-year post in Limerick without the position being advertised publicly.

Mr Murray, who has previously been accused of cronyism for appointing former EU President Pat Cox’s assistant Patricia Ryan to the position of CEO of the Limerick City of Culture 2014 body, left Louth last year to take up the role of Limerick City Manager.

Now he has come under fire for appointing his best man Dr Pat Daly, to a senior managerial role in the council.

Following the appointment of Ms Ryan, Labour councillor Tom Shortt called on him to step down and similar requests are likely to be made after The Irish Independent revealed on Saturday that Dr Daly – best man at Mr Murray’s wedding in November 2000 – was given a senior post in Limerick City Council last summer.

The appointment came after the Shannon Development authority, where he worked was wound down.

In a statement to the Irish Independent, a spokesman for Limerick City Council has insisted Mr Murray’s friendship with Dr Daly played no part in his appointment.

“Dr Pat Daly did act as best man for Mr Murray on the occasion of his wedding 13 years ago,” a spokesman said.

His appointment by Mr Murray in Limerick City and County Council followed an internal process, the spokesman added. Mr Murray then made the appointment on the recommendation of an independent interview board.

“His association with Dr Daly could not in any way justify doing otherwise,” the spokesman added.

The spokesman insisted the appointment process followed the established redeployment procedures provided for in the Public Service Agreement.