Red Cross denies flood aid claims

THERE has been no delay in the distribution of the €1.4m donated by the public to help those affected by the floods before Christmas, the Irish Red Cross insisted yesterday.

It was responding to a report in a Sunday newspaper claiming that the crisis-ridden charity, whose indebtedness was highlighted in the Dáil last week, had not spent any of the money.

A spokesperson for the charity said €16,000 of the money raised had already been given to an initiative announced last December by Lord Mayor of Cork Dara Murphy to co-ordinate relief efforts by various charitable organisations.