Waterford councillors criticised after €20,000 spent on security at private homes
The two Fine Gael councillors were both allocated money by Waterford City and County Council for security measures last year
Two Waterford councillors have been criticised after it was revealed that nearly €20,000 of public money was spent on security measures at their private homes.
Fine Gael councillors Pat Nugent and Lola O’Sullivan were both allocated money by Waterford City and County Council for security measures last year.
Public records show that Cllr Nugent was allocated €10,000, whilst Cllr O’Sullivan, the current Metropolitan Mayor, was allocated €9,591.
As first reported by WLRFM, Cllr O’Sullivan used this money to install gates at her property, whilst Cllr Nugent spent it on gates and CCTV.
The money was allocated under amendments made to the Local Government Act 2001, which came into effect in July of last year.
The legislation allows for funding to be provided to elected members where they are seen to face “a credible and serious threat to their personal physical security”.
The revelation has received a wide reaction from people across Waterford, with many expressing frustration over the situation.
Sinn Féin councillor John Hearne criticised the spending of the money and outlined the threats he has faced in years gone by.
In a post on Facebook, Cllr Hearne said: “I remember when my car was petrol bombed and my life was threatened by a criminal gang, no one called me from the council.
“The garda told me not to cycle anywhere as the gang might run me down. They never mentioned buying a gate.
“If you now feel your life is in danger, you can spend €10,000 of taxpayers money but would you buy a gate?”
He went on to argue that anyone looking to trespass onto someone’s property will find a way around gates.
“It’s a sad day for criminals in Waterford when they don’t know how to open a gate, climb over it or wait till you come out.
“The way to beat criminals is to fight them and lock them up, not hide.
“We should never back up, back off or walk away when our community is threatened and that includes councillors.”
Cllr Hearne’s post received a large number of comments criticising the spending of the money.
One local woman said: “There's working people living for the year on three times what those gates cost.”
Another person said that it was a case of doing “anything but trying to solve the problem”.
“Pure greed John. They should be ashamed of themselves [for] wasting taxpayers’ money,” one local man remarked.
However, one commenter argued that the councillors were claiming what they were entitled to.
“Fair play to them. Entitled to claim it and do. Anyone else who says they wouldn't claim it if elected is a liar. Most are only jealous they can’t,” the man stated.
Speaking to WLRFM’s Déise Today yesterday, Cllr O’Sullivan said that she was advised to avail of the security allowance by the gardaí after “a number of incidents”.
She said that those incidents are now under investigation by An Garda Síochána.