UCC names inquiry chief

A FORMER top civil servant has been chosen by the governing body of University College Cork to examine allegations of financial mismanagement and other claims made against staff.

The development comes as a shortlist of four candidates has been chosen to compete for the job of university president, to succeed Professor Gerry Wrixon when he retires at the end of next January.

John Malone, a former general secretary of the Department of Agriculture, is to carry out the review of allegations made to Education Minister Mary Hanafin by head of philosophy, Professor Des Clarke. He claims there has been a failure to control UCC’s debt under Prof Wrixon’s tenure and that there is widespread bullying and intimidation of staff.