Judge may intervene in UCC row

Niall Murray, Education Correspondent

UCC is accused of refusing to show internal files to the academics, who say they have major concerns about the university’s financial management.

It is understood their queries relate to student accommodation and other business carried out by UCC’s administrators.

However, senior sources at the university insisted last night there is no substance to the concerns.

One figure said the issues are being raised solely in the context of internal wrangling at the college.

In an e-mail circulated to staff this week, professors Desmond Clarke and Patricia Coughlan said they have been refused permission to consult the relevant files they sought in March.

They claim that as elected members of the governing body, they are entitled to inspect such records under the college’s own statutes.

“We have serious concerns about specific aspects of the financial management of the university and, in particular, about some property transactions which, allegedly, have been completed on behalf of the university in the recent past,” their message said.

They are considering the options available to enforce their legal rights.

“They may include requesting the appointment of a university visitor to rule on the university’s decision to deny governors access to files held in UCC on behalf of the governing body,” they told colleagues.

Under the 1997 Universities Act, the Government can appoint a High Court judge or a retired judge from the High Court or Supreme Court to perform the role of visitor.

A UCC spokesperson said the issue was an internal matter and will be dealt with internally. “We do not conduct our business in public. The university administration categorically does not accept the contents of the e-mail as accurate.”

There has been strong opposition among some academics to UCC president Professor Gerry Wrixon’s running of the university in recent years.

However, despite threats of a legal challenge from some of his opponents, a request to extend the president’s tenure beyond normal retirement age is understood to have been passed by the Higher Education Authority and is awaiting the approval of Education Minister Noel Dempsey.

The two governing body members indicated they are also considering notifying the Department of Education, the Department of Finance and the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of the situation.

The say they will use all other legal means to fulfil their obligations for the administration of UCC under the Universities Act.