FF senator avoids sanction over donations return failure

FIANNA FÁIL senator Mark Daly will escape prosecution for failing to return a donations statement in time to the state’s ethics watchdog, sources have indicated.

The Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) referred Mr Daly and two other Oireachtas members to the Director of Public Prosecutions over their failure to make a donations return for 2009.

The deadline for the 2009 statements – in which TDs, senators and MEPS declare the donations they received during the year – was January 31 last.