University of Limerick rejects ‘offensive’ claims made by HEA

The University of Limerick has rejected claims by the Higher Education Authority that there may be a “culture” of inappropriate expense claims among its staff, describing the allegation as “offensive”.

The HEA made the claim following the publication of an independent report into allegations made by three of UL’s staff members.

The whistleblowers, known only as Persons A, B, and C, had made allegations of irregular financial practices within the university, including irregular expense claims by staff.

Person A is identified as a former staff member, while B and C are currently employed at UL but are suspended.

The report, published following a review by independent auditors Mazars, found inappropriate expenses claims were made, but these were correctly challenged by staff, addressed by the university, and no inappropriate payments were made.

In publishing the report, the HEA yesterday outlined a number of concerns it had arising from the report. It called for an investigation to determine “whether financial issues identified are indicative of wider practices within the institution when any such issues are raised”.

“The HEA have a concern that there may have been, or may still be, a culture in the university of inappropriate claims being made, until challenged,” it stated.

UL rejected this in its own statement, in which it said it would “seek clarification from the HEA on certain aspects of its response”.

“In particular the HEA’s suggestion that there was or may still be ‘a culture’ of staff making inappropriate expense claims is not justified, is not supported by the report, and is offensive to past and present staff of the university,” the statement read.

UL welcomed the Mazars report, which it said “is consistent with the university’s position that no financial mismanagement or financial wrongdoing took place”.

The whistleblowers’ claims first came to light in the Limerick Leader last September. UL has issued High Court proceedings against the newspaper and its editor, Alan English, when it failed to retract allegations made in its report and issue an apology.

The university described the claims made by the newspaper as “false and seriously damaging to the reputation of the University of Limerick and to members of its staff”.

Mr English yesterday said the HEA report vindicated the Limerick Leader’s decision to highlight the claims and described the UL response welcoming the report as “highly selective”.

“We regret that — unlike the HEA response — the UL statement fails to acknowledge the notable contribution and public service performed by these women, who have described their experiences as enormously stressful and painful over a sustained period,” said Mr English.

“Their view has always been that in seeking to highlight problems, they became the problem — rather than part of the solution.”