Department denies Cullen was rushed to hospital

DEPARTMENT officials last night denied Transport Minister Martin Cullen, who is the subject of two inquiries into the appointment of PR adviser Monica Leech, was rushed to hospital earlier this week.

However, reliable sources close to Mr Cullen said he had attended Waterford’s Ardkeen Hospital on Monday for a routine assessment in advance of a minor operation scheduled for the new year.

Although several newspapers speculated that the hospital visit may have been stress-related, Department officials rejected the suggestion outright saying the visit had been planned for some time and was not a result of extra pressure due to the ongoing controversy surrounding Monica Leech’s appointment.