Limerick TD insists sale of council-owned lands in Limerick village was 'transparent and open'

LIMERICK TD and Minister of State Niall Collins has denied any wrongdoing arising from the sale of council-owned lands almost 15 years ago.

Allegations relating to the sale of the lands in Patrickswell have been published by The Ditch website in recent days and Mr Collins has come under pressure to clarify matters in the Dail.

In a brief statement, issued this Monday night, the Fianna Fail TD said: "In September 2008 at a statutory meeting of (the then) Limerick County Council, the sale of a property in Patrickswell was approved and sold following a transparent and open sales process, which was open to all

"For the record I was not a member of the council in September 2008, having been elected as a TD in May 2007. Prior to the sale in 2008, the property was advertised in the local public press."

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The statement, which was issued by the Fianna Fail press office adds: "When the council executive recommended to the Bruff LEA committee that the property should be put up for sale in January 2007, neither I nor my wife had any pecuniary or beneficial interest in that property. There was no disagreement to the executive’s recommendation."