Hanafin to ‘clear up’ UCC debt allegations
But the minister has said it would not be appropriate to have the claims against UCC president Professor Gerry Wrixon examined by a High Court judge, who she can legally appoint where claims are made that university laws or statutes are being breached.
The appointment of such a “visitor” is being sought by critics of Prof Wrixon, most notably UCC governor, Prof Des Clarke, who has made a series of allegations to Ms Hanafin, including financial mismanagement, and bullying and intimidation of staff.
Although she has asked the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to examine the claims, the minister indicated yesterday that an outside party would be best placed to probe them.
She said anything that is going to interfere with her confidence in the third-level system must be dealt with “It’s not in the best interest of the university for this to keep rolling. The HEA are going to meet the UCC governing body next week but it may need the HEA to get somebody independent to take a look at it,” Ms Hanafin said.
“There are lots of steps you can take before ever getting to the appointment of a visitor, which is a very serious thing. You’d have to get somebody who was acceptable to both sides,” she said.
The minister acknowledged that most of the claims were dismissed when they were previously probed by the HEA, but she does not want a situation where such tension existed in any college.
“I think appointing a visitor at this stage would be taking the allegations too seriously, given that they were disputed two years ago. But I don’t want it to come back again in another two years,” she said.
“They’re about Gerry Wrixon but they’re also about finances and about spending of money on buildings, therefore it could be very easily cleared up,” Ms Hanafin said.
She said there were eminent people on both sides of the argument, including Prof Wrixon and his predecessor, Prof Michael Mortell who has publicly backed the calls for a visitor to be appointed.
Prof Wrixon last month defended his role and that of the governing body in the running of UCC and said the college was financially viable. Although it has debts of $39 million (€31m), Prof Clarke’s allegations suggest a figure closer to $100m.
Selection for Prof Wrixon’s successor is underway ahead of his retirement in January, the announcement of which was greeted with surprise last summer.
