The Fine Gael committee investigating payments to its Dublin local authority representatives has "unreservedly" apologised to a PD councillor, Mr Tom Morris sey, for making a "factually incorrect" allegation against him.
In a "supplemental report" is sued last night, the committee conceded that its claim that Mr Morrissey, who left Fine Gael to join the Progressive Democrats in 1997, failed to supply information to the committee about a £2,000 cash payment, which he received in 1996, was wrong.
"In fact, Cllr Morrissey did supply certain further information about the payment concerned, such as that it was not made by Frank Dunlop, that it was made while he was a Fine Gael candidate in the Dublin West by-election and that the payment was a political contribution."
Mr Morrissey had threatened legal action against Fine Gael unless it retracted the claim, contained in the committee's May 12th report. The PD councillor last night said he was satisfied the apology "totally clears my name and brings this issue to a close". He said he would not pursue any le gal roceedings against Fine Gael unless the party decided to single him out or "treat me in a special manner" at some stage in the future. "If that happens, I won't be satisfied with an apology."
Mr Morrissey, who is due to stand for the PDs in Dublin West at the next general election, said he had given the Flood tribunal all details relating to the payment and was honouring the confidentiality which the inquiry imposed on him.
In its supplemental report, the committee acknowledged that, by reason of the error in its initial report, it "gave the impression that Cllr Morrissey had not co-operated with the committee. This was a wholly incorrect impression which reflected unfairly on Cllr Morrissey and no doubt caused distress to him and his family, which the committee sincerely regrets."
It was entirely satisfied that the payment concerned had no affect on Cllr Morrissey's voting".
