City council faces financial ruin for firing contractor

LIMERICK City Council is facing financial ruin after an arbitrator ruled yesterday that a contractor was wrongly fired from the city’s main drainage scheme.

Fears were expressed last night that the council may have to pay Uniform Construction over €50 million - almost 80% of the council’s entire annual budget.

The chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Limerick East TD Michael Noonan, said the Exchequer may have to step in to save the council and protect its services.