Healy Rae cleared of public office ethics breach

PROMINENT Kerry councillor Danny Healy-Rae, aged 49, has been cleared of an allegation of a breach of public office ethics, following an investigation, it was learned yesterday.

The three-month investigation was conducted by county manager Martin Riordan and mayor Ned O’Sullivan, after a complaint by independent councillor Brendan Cronin, resulting from a motion tabled at the council’s September meeting by Mr Healy-Rae, Ind FF.

The motion, which was passed, called for the resumption of a hedge-cutting programme, while Mr Healy-Rae had tendered for hedge-cutting work in his role as a plant hire contractor to the council.