WIT president’s term to end after board decision

PROFESSOR Kieran Byrne’s role as president of Waterford Institute of Technology will not be extended after the college board decided last night not to reappoint him amid controversy over his expenses.

A meeting of the WIT governing body yesterday was scheduled to ratify a second term for Mr Byrne, whose contract as head of the college for 10 years ends today, after he was recommended for reappointment from an earlier selection process.

However, after several hours discussing the issue, the board’s chairman Dr Donie Ormonde said last night that it was decided not to adopt the recommendation of the selection board. He said it was decided to broaden the search and selection process because of the strategic nature of the appointment.