Kerry councillors facing Standards Commission investigation

The Standards Commission is to investigate alleged breaches of the Ethics Act by Councillors Patrick O'Donoghue and Sheila Casey of Killarney Town Council.

Public hearings into the alleged breaches will take place on March 26th at the Public Offices Commission in Dublin.

It relates to the re-zoning of land around the Gleneagles Hotel in Killarney last year for a shopping centre.

The hotel is owned by Councillor Patrick O'Donoghue's family.

When the vote was taken, Patrick O'Donoghue of Fianna Fáil abstained due to a conflict of interest, however, Sheila Casey, a former mayor of Killarney, did vote and she is employed by the Gleneagles Hotel.

Sheila Casey told Radio Kerry today that she has no case to answer.

Five Councillors voted in favour of the re-zoning against the advice of planning officials in Killarney Town Council.