Cullen will face a second inquiry into Leech contract, says Ahern

EMBATTLED Transport Minister Martin Cullen is to face a second inquiry into the controversial contract of over €300,000 he awarded to PR consultant Monica Leech, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern confirmed yesterday.

The Standards in Public Offices Commission (SPOC) is already conducting an investigation into the ethics of the deal.

But Mr Ahern said this second inquiry would be headed by a senior civil servant and he hoped it would be completed within a month after the Dáil resumes in January.