Dublin councillor defends politicians incorrectly filled property declarations

A Dublin City Councillor has defended politicians who forget to fill in their property declarations properly.

Dermot Lacey has said most Councillors think their family home doesn't need to be included on forms.

His comments follow an RTE investigation which exposed County Councillors allegedly accepting bribes and failing to declare a range of assets and business interests.

Fianna Fáil's Joe Queenan, has resigned from his party in the wake of the programme but several others who featured in the show have defended their behaviour.

Councillor Dermot Lacey has said he condemns any form of corruption but thinks the forms can be confusing: “The problem is and I am one of those people by the way, every councillor I have spoken to bar one was advised by their county officials that the family home did not come under the heading on the form.

“That’s where the real problem is, there is no point hiding your family home because you own it, it is on dozens of councillor records across the country, people took that question to mean a developing land site.”