Board admits breaking rules by paying firm €1m

THE Southern Health Board has admitted paying out over €1m to a management consultancy firm two years ago in breach of statutory regulations.

SHB chief executive officer Seán Hurley accepted yesterday the SHB was wrong to have engaged a firm of consultants between 2001 and 2002 without holding a formal competition, as required by EU law.

Although the firm was not identified, it is understood to be Dublin-based Prospectus Strategy Consultants.