Hanlon to foot €36,000 bill for watches given to Aer Rianta chiefs

FORMER Aer Rianta chairman Noel Hanlon will personally foot a €36,000 bill for exclusive watches he gave to fellow directors of the now disbanded airport authority.

Last night, Mr Hanlon said he would give back his own €9,000 Cartier watch and would personally pay for the four other watches given at the taxpayers’ expense to outgoing Aer Rianta directors.

Hanlon hopes his decision will put a stop to the watch controversy which caused alarm in political circles yesterday.