Former Limerick City of Culture chief gets €100k

The CEO of Limerick City of Culture 2014, who resigned after a controversy blew up about the manner in which she was appointed, has reportedly received a more than €100,000 settlement, the Irish Examiner has learned.

Patricia Ryan had entered a €120,000-a-year contract which was to run for 2014 and six months into 2015. She previously worked as an adviser to PD Leader Mary Harney when she was the minister for health.

She spent a number of years in Brussels acting as assistant to Pat Cox, when he was the president of the European Parliament, before returning to work as a ministerial adviser.

Mr Cox was chairman of the board of Limerick City of Culture which appointed Ms Ryan without advertising the post. When the manner of her appointment became public, Limerick City and County Council CEO Con Murray said Ms Ryan got the post by a process which was “highly acceptable” to ensure the most appropriate person was put in place.

The project ran into major troublewhen artistic director Karl Wallace and two other key management personnel quit. As anger built, a meeting was called which was attended by Mr Cox, Ms Ryan, and several hundred members of the artistic community. After the meeting, Ms Ryan said the criticism she had to endure was hard to listen to and insisted she would remain on in her post.

Mr Cox also said he was not quitting. Some days after the public meeting, Ms Ryan quit her post as CEO.

She said: “The speculation and commentary surrounding the events of recent days has regrettably compromised my authority and capacity to continue leading the project.”

After legal talks, a financial settlement was recently reached with Ms Ryan who now works as special adviser to Junior Health Minister, Kathleen Lynch of Labour.

When contacted yesterday Ms Ryan said she was upset this matter was being put to her.