Áras denies staff rift after president’s advisor Van Lieshout quits

Senior figures have hit back at claims key Áras staff members are having their access to President Michael D Higgins blocked by an aide.

An Áras source has insisted that the sudden resignation of the president’s special adviser, Mary Van Lieshout, was not linked to the role of Mr Higgins’s executive assistant, Kevin McCarthy.

Reports that Ms Van Lieshout quit her €103,471-a-year post halfway through her three-year contract due to having to go through Mr McCarthy to gain access to the head of state have raised political eyebrows.