Inquiry into UCC mismanagement claims expected

AN independent inquiry into allegations of mismanagement at University College Cork is expected to be announced after college governors meet the Higher Education Authority (HEA) next week.

The authority has been asked by Education Minister Mary Hanafin to examine the allegations made to her during the summer by UCC governing body member Professor Des Clarke.

They include allegations the college has accumulated unsustainable debt and has had a large number of bullying claims from staff during the tenure of UCC president Professor Gerry Wrixon — claims Prof Wrixon strongly refutes.

The HEA has previously examined some of these allegations but acknowledged to Prof Clarke it had never conducted an inquiry in relation to them.

“I can confirm that the HEA has not carried out an inquiry into the allegations and any reports to the contrary are incorrect,” HEA chief executive Tom Boland wrote in an email to Prof Clarke a fortnight ago.

The Department of Education and UCC management have said recently that the HEA has previously found no merit in the allegations.

A HEA spokesperson said it had brought previous allegations to the UCC governing body and decided, on the basis of the college’s response, that no further action was required.

Ms Hanafin said last week she would prefer to see the matters assessed by an independent third party, acceptable to both sides.

This appears increasingly likely to happen, although such a move would fall short of the demand by Prof Clarke — backed by former UCC president Professor Michael Mortell — for the minister to appoint a visitor under the Universities Act.

She can appoint such a person, up to the position of a High Court judge, to examine alleged breaches of university laws or statutes.

UCC governing body chairman Professor Enda McDonagh is expected to be accompanied by three fellow governors at next Tuesday’s meeting with the HEA in Dublin.

The latest developments are taking place as the first set of candidates who have applied to succeed Prof Wrixon when he retires next January are due to be interviewed.

These will be conducted by English recruitment consultants engaged by UCC, who will present a shortlist for the governing body’s selection sub-committee for final decision.