Cork council chief denies being 'Scrooge' over pulling plug on public Christmas lights switch-on

Ann Doherty said decision based on concern around crowd safety

Ms Doherty confirmed last month that crowd safety concerns were the driving factor behind the decision to pull the plug on the holding of a large-scale Christmas lights switch-on ceremony in the city centre again this year. File picture: Rory Coomey

The chief executive of Cork City Council has defended the decision not to host a public Christmas lights switch-on event in the city centre for the second year running.

Ann Doherty said she has been called the "Scrooge of Christmas and everything else" since the decision was announced last month but added: “Anything I do is only done with one thing in mind — and that is the safety and welfare of the citizens of the city.