Monaghan County Councillor Hugh McElvaney speaking to an undercover reporter on an RTÉ Investigates programme in 2015

In 2015, an undercover reporter for RTÉ Investigates presented themselves to former Fine Gael Monaghan County Councillor Hugh McElvaney as a representative of a fictitious firm called Vinst Opportunities which, Mr McElvaney was told, wanted to set up wind farms in Ireland.

During their meeting, Mr McElvaney told the RTÉ reporter that he would help the company get planning permission.

Asked how much he was looking for, he told the reporter:

“Ten grand would be a start.”

Further to this…

The Standards In Public Office Commission writes:

“The investigation hearing into the alleged contraventions of the Ethical Framework for Local Government Service by Councillor Hugh McElvaney of Monaghan County Council will commence at 9.30am on Monday, 17 September 2018, at the offices of the Standards in Public Office Commission at 18 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2.

“There will be a limited number of space available for the public who may wish to attend.”

Mr McElvaney is still a Monghan County Councillor but he is no longer with Fine Gael.

Update – Investigation Hearing 17 September 2018 (SIPO)

Previously: “What’s In It For Me?”

Decent Irish Graft

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11 thoughts on “*popcorn*”

  1. Alan

    How is he still a councillor? He was caught red handed. This was 3 years ago….. why is it only happening now?

    1. postmanpat

      Probably because the council workers don’t know whos job it is to fire him and whos job it is to escort him out of the building. He was probably worried for the first few weeks after the RTE show , thinking “this is the day” they’d come into his office and ask him to step away from the computer. then as the weeks and months rolled by he realized he was probably going to get away with it. Then the fear was replaces by relief, then smugness. he probably has a nice big nest egg saved up over the last few years with his salary and expenses. He’ll retire before anything heats up and he will get a big send off with a cake and signed card. He will play up a fabricated health concern to put off any pursuers. standard stuff really, and the public will eat that muck up and ask for seconds , before pulling there pants down, spreading there legs and bending over. he’ll live on comfortably to a ripe old age, causing a much destruction as he can. then, pull the ladder up after himself just like every other boomer in a suit.

    2. Spaghetti Hoop

      The fact that he is says a lot about Monaghan Co. Council. Would have expected a suspension – with pay at the very least. Seems you can get away with anything at local government level.

    3. The Old Boy

      These sorts of antics are terribly popular in certain parts of the sticks.

      “He’s our man, keeping the wheels turning for us when those damn bureaucrats with their Dublin notions about planning rules and procedures try to stop us daycent people from getting on in life. Sure, isn’t it only right that he makes a few bob for himself while he’s at it? You wouldn’t work for free yourself etc etc”

  4. realPolithicks

    Three years later, what a joke…Gemma O’Doherty has a very strong point regarding corruption in Ireland.

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