Former CIT president signed off on his own retirement function

Cork Institute of Technology is being asked for a full explanation of how its ex-president Brendan Murphy personally signed off on more than half the €13,000 costs of two functions to mark his own retirement.

The ability of any college to do so was sharply criticised at the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee.

The Higher Education Authority is also seeking “a full explanation” from CIT after a letter to the PAC from CIT’s acting president Barry O’Connor revealed that Mr Murphy approved the June 1 function that cost just over €11,000.