Fine Gael TD called a 'disgrace' over job creation claims

A Fine Gael TD has been called a disgrace after claiming to have delivered 150 jobs at a craft beer brewery for his constituency only to have its founder reject that the politician had any involvement in the company expansion.

Kildare North TD Anthony Lawlor’s election leaflet listed the jobs for the town of Kilcock, when the brewery in question had moved to Celbridge, 20km away.

Niall Phelan, founder of the Rye River Brewing Company, took to social media to dispute Mr Lawlor’s claims after a friend of the brewer alerted him to the TD’s election literature, in which he listed “150 jobs created Rye River Brewing Company” under the heading “Delivered to Kilcock”.