Councillor gave loan to leisure centre

A SENIOR Clare local politician has provided the “substantial” part of an interest-free loan of €211,105 to a swimming pool and leisure centre, it was confirmed yesterday.

Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind) confirmed yesterday that she provided part of the loan to Shannon Swimming & Leisure. She was responding to a query on the accounts for the company.

Along with being a member of the county council, she serves as a director on the board of the company that runs the centre.

Ms McCarthy said she would “prefer not to” specify how much she had provided. She said other directors also gave loans to the company to complete a €1.2 million refurbishment.

Last year, she confirmed she had loaned the centre €75,000 in 2009.

She said the loans were made against the background of the economic downturn when fundraising became difficult.

The centre recorded a loss of €75,334 after depreciation in the 12 months to the end of October last. Turnover was €369,657.