Embattled county councillor John O’Donnell has said he has no intention of resigning and says the electorate of the Milford area will be his judges on local election day on May 24th next.
The controversial councillor issued a statement in which he said he was disappointed with the Standards in Public Office Commission’s investigation into an RTE Primetime programme.
In the programme, RTE sent an undercover reporter to approach Cllr O’Donnell for support for a bogus windfarm proposal.
SIPO claims that Cllr O’Donnell acted incorrectly in his dealings with the bogus businesswoman.
Some local councillors have said that Councillor O’Donnell has no option but to resign.
However, Cllr O’Donnell stressed that there is no evidence that he sought money in return for lobbying for the bogus windfarm company.
He stated “Following the report of the SIPO Commission investigation into my participation in the RTE Primetime Report of December 7th 2015 I wish to express my disappointment with the findings.
“SIPO has concluded that I acted incorrectly on a number of counts with regard to the ethics of local government legislation.
“I have already apologised for my behaviour in a letter to the Secretary of Donegal County Council on December 9th 2015 for any misunderstanding that may have arisen as a result of the Prime Time broadcast.
“I fully exonerated any members of Donegal County Council from any perceived wrong and that it was not my intention to compromise the good name of any colleague, staff or members.”
The Kilmacrennan councillor said he wished to repeat that apology in the light of the findings of the SIPO Commission report this week.
However, he added that it is important to point out that the SIPO hearing was not about any ‘criminal process’ and as such his record has not been tarnished in serving the people of Donegal within the terms of the Local Government Act.
He stressed “There is no evidence whatever that I sought money for any service to the electorate in my role as an elected representative.
“I have always acted in the public interest in my role as a Councillor in promoting the development of Donegal and I’ve never sought any benefit from that position.
“My role as a businessman is different but at all times I’ve acted strictly in accordance with guidelines and obligations under Part 15 of the Local Government Act and I am satisfied that I have complied with obligations.
“I am disappointed that an RTE programme paid for by you, the licences payers was used to ‘set up public representative’ using an undercover reporter, hidden cameras and recording devices.
“My position was compromised since there appeared to be a misunderstanding between my role as a businessman and that of a public representative.
“While the SIPO Commission has found me guilty on three counts relating to ethics in politics, I wish to make it clear that no evidence emerged from the edited and unedited RTE recordings that I sought any remuneration in my role as a public representative.
“The electorate of the Milford area will be the judges of my record on May 24th.”