Laois County Board officers quit over ticket scandal

Two Laois County Board officers have resigned following a scandal over the so-called 'ticketgate' affair in the O'Moore County.

The resignations follow board findings that showed €39,000 went missing from Laois County Board funds in recent years. It is believed that the missing money is due to unpaid-for tickets.

At a meeting of the Laois County Executive this week, former chairman and current Leinster Council delegate Dick Miller tendered his resignation from the County Executive.

This triggered the resignation from the board of Vice Chairman and former Treasurer Tony Walsh.

Portlaoise firm Kirwan-Bain, auditors to the Laois County Board, also submitted a letter to the meeting in which they stated their decision to step down from their involvement with Laois GAA.

It was also requested that current treasurer and former assistant treasurer Evelyn Dunne step aside from her role.

However, Ms Dunne launched a strong defence of her role as treasurer, saying that she had nothing to be ashamed of.

"I am saddened and hurt by what has gone on over the past few weeks. I have served as PRO, assistant treasurer and the last two years as treasurer," she told delegates.

"I have given my utmost (to the board) often to the detriment of other things in my life.

"I have been told that I am too straight and too abrupt and not the most politically correct person. But I am honest.

"I was reared to be as honest as the day is long."

The Abbeyleix native, whose son Thomas was part of the successful Laois All-Ireland minor winning squads of the 1990s, also expressed her annoyance over the way she has been treated, and why queries about the scandal were not being directed to her as treasurer.

"Decisions have been taken that I wasn't told about. We have a new Championship sponsor and I was never told of any meeting with them. I was never invited to any meeting with them.

'And we have a new (county) team sponsor and I was told nothing.

"That's how your treasurer has been treated and I feel very hurt by what has happened here over the past five or six weeks.

"Dick Miller had a different leadership to Brian Allen. He trusted you and let you get on with the job. Brian says he wasn't told and maybe I should have (been)."

And to assure that another 'ticketgate' affair will not develop in Laois, County Chairman Brian Allen said: "We have a full-time secretary in Laois. All invoices, all bookings should go through him. It wasn't happening.

"In future we will be tendering for business, meals, etc. and all through the secretary. Every invoice will be inspected."