Ex-official refuses to attend slush fund probe

A former Siptu official has blamed garda inquiries for his refusal to co-operate with a Dáil committee investigation into a ‘slush’ fund he managed.

Matt Merrigan, the union’s former health division organiser, has told the Public Accounts Committee he will not attend a hearing on the fund next month.

PAC officials described yesterday how Mr Merrigan, former union official, Jack Kelly, and a former HSE employee, Alan Smith, were compelled to attend the hearing.