University chief rejects mismanagement claims

UNIVERSITY College Cork president Professor Gerry Wrixon has rejected claims of mismanagement of finances made by senior academics who are opposed to his continuing in office.

Prof Wrixon turns 65 today and was notified last night of Government approval to continue in office until 2009.

But a group of academics have called for an inquiry into the university’s management. They expressed concern that UCC is facing a deficit of €60 million.

“We have put this point repeatedly to the university administration and asked how we’re going to pay it off, but no answer has been forthcoming,” Prof Des Clarke, head of the philosophy department, told RTÉ last night.

The group of more than 20 academics called for an external investigation of this and other issues, and claimed Prof Wrixon had lost the trust of academic staff.

Education Minister Mary Hanafin and Finance Minister Brian Cowen yesterday gave their consent for Prof Wrixon to complete his presidency, normally a 10-year term, which he took up in January 1999.

There were concerns about the impact on public pensions policy if he was allowed continue beyond normal retirement age, but these were dealt with by an amendment to UCC’s statutes.

Last night, Prof Wrixon said any matters causing concern to academics have already been investigated.

A UCC spokesperson said the college would be happy for any legitimate body to inquire into any issue raised.

“The finances of UCC are sound and any claims about Prof Wrixon’s management style are nonsense,” he said.

The spokesperson said there has been a campaign for more than two years in which allegations have been circulated to Government, the Higher Education Authority and the media.

“But there isn’t one instance of the allegations made in that time which was found to have any substance whatsoever,” he said.