Fitzgerald ‘deeply sorry’ for comments

Munster Council secretary Pat Fitzgerald apologised to Waterford and Clare for sections of his annual report that had caused unintended hurt to both counties.

“Sometimes we make mistakes,’’ Fitzgerald told delegates, adding he was “deeply sorry’’ some of his comments had caused offence. “It was never my intention that that would happen’’, the secretary said.

Fitzgerald had stated that over the years the Munster Council had allocated grants to Waterford and Clare towards maintenance and upkeep of their county grounds. “I am somehow sceptical that this funding was at all times spent on such projects,” Fitzgerald reported, “and I believe that in future before allocating these grants we should work with the counties to decide how these monies are spent and identify what issues or work we want prioritised’’.

Fitzgerald subsequently acknowledged what he had intended to convey had been taken out of context and was sorry it had caused such offence.

“That was not my intention at all’’, the secretary told the delegates, “and to all of the Waterford officials both past and present I am sorry for the way the whole thing was presented’’.

Immediately Clare and Waterford delegates Michael O’Neill and chairman Tom Cunningham were on their feet to accept the secretary’s explanation.

Not nearly as cordial however was the contribution of Tipperary’s Sean Nugent to another section of Fitzgerald’s report relating to Council funding for “centres of excellence’’ in the province.

“Some of the secretary’s comments are calculated to embarrass Tipperary for daring to raise their heads above the parapet to highlight the fact that Munster Council has failed to grant aid county grounds or centres of excellence for development since 2007’’, Nugent said.