O’Donoghue’s wife clocked up €14,000 in travel bills

KATE ANN O’Donoghue, the wife of the Ceann Comhairle, flew between Dublin and Kerry at least 25 times and made a number of foreign trips at the cost of up to €14,000 to the taxpayer during her husband’s first two years in the position.

A further €70,000 was claimed in expenses for John O’Donoghue’s constituency office in Cahirciveen, despite him previously claiming that his role is apolitical.

This includes a €32,000 phone bill, more than €10,000 advertising himself locally and €2,500 sending out “publicity post” to his constituents in Christmas week last year.