01-06-2002
Horan welcomes offer of independent investigation.
The Department of Public Enterprise has called on people who have made allegations of cash payments from private bus operators to Bus Eireann for contract work to make sworn statements to the Department.
A spokesperson for the Department said that if this was done the Department would then decide what course of action to take.
The Department made its call in contacts with the legal representatives of Mountmellick operator john Horan who made the original allegations against Bus Eireann.
John Horan of Horan Coaches Ltd welcomed the development, saying that his position had been vindicated. "The appointment of an independent investigator will allow considerable leeway to private operators and contractors in securing work from the State run company. The promised investigation will result in a more transparent system of work practices complained by me," he said.
A spokesperson for Mr Horan's solicitors, Galway based Brian Lynch and Associates, said: "We conducted an investigation which gave strong indications of cash payments to Bus Eireann employees over the course of recent years, and we welcome the fact that the Department of Public Enterprise are now seen to be willing to appoint an independent investigator of our clients complaint."
Bus Eireann has refuted the allegations of cash payments by private bus operators to its employees of the company. "These allegations have been found to be entirely without foundation," they said.
Mr Horan stated that the payments to Bus Eireann employees were for work. He also stated that Horan Coaches Ltd did not lose school contract work, as they had no school bus contract and did not carry out school runs.
Mountmellick variety show raises funds for special Olympic team
A Varity show performed by community members and students of the Mountmellick Community school raised more than €2,000 in aid of the forthcoming Special Olympics.
The show held at the CYMS Hall. Mountmellick will help residents who are billeting the members of the Cuban Special Olympics team.
The programme, which was mostly music based, consisted of over twenty different acts form school and community groups.
Musical recitations included 'Over Protected' by Jude Molloy, Emma Doody and Michelle Maher, 'All I Want is You' by Maria Whyte and 'St Patrick's Day' by Caroline Lynch. 'Everything I Do' was performed by Nuala Carroll, 'Sometimes' by Susan Flannery and 'Not Yet a Woman' by Alison Doody. Sarah Dempsey and Cassandra Dunne sang the song 'Hero', and Roas Caschera, Jude Molloy, Mary Rose Melia, Ronan Walsh, Eoghan O'Neill and Shaun Smith performed as the pop band Six. The classic 'County Roads' was performed by teachers of Mountmellick Community School accompanied by Audary Whelan.
Music was performed by Comhaltas Mointeach Milic, Tom McDonald and Band, Ger Philips and Band and Joe Salmon and his band Murabhe Beo.
Sound and lighting were provided by Derek Recks and Ron Lawlor.
