Questions raised over Martin care charge denial

FORMER Health Minister Micheál Martin’s denial that he knew of the scale of the nursing home charges crisis was challenged last night as further questions were raised over the extent of his knowledge.

As he jetted off to Australia for St Patrick’s Day, several revelations raised further questions as to how Mr Martin never became aware of the urgency of the long-stay charges issue.

Although this week’s Travers report failed to uncover any documentary evidence to suggest Mr Martin had been properly briefed on the affair, it emerged last night that a letter from a constituent had informed him of the illegal charges four years ago.