“There Have Been Inconsistencies In Deputy Bailey’s Account of Events”

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Leo Varadkar and Maria Bailey in 2016

This afternoon.

Via Taoiseach Leo Varadkar:

“Deputy Bailey was injured following a fall from a swing in a hotel in 2015. She sustained painful injuries and incurred significant medical bills as a result.

“The accident happened and the injuries were real and were confirmed by medical reports. The inquiry states that it was not a fraudulent claim.

Minister Madigan (then a backbench TD) gave initial legal advice, guidance and assisted Deputy Bailey with her Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) application.

This was a preliminary step which often results in amicable resolution but the hotel did not engage with the PIAB. Minister Madigan did not deal with the subsequent legal proceedings.

These were dealt with by another solicitor in the firm who acted on Deputy Bailey’s instructions.

“She was advised that she had a ‘statable’ case. However, there were concerns that a finding of contributory negligence against her was likely and this was communicated to her on several occasions.

“Deputy Bailey signed an affidavit (linked to a personal injuries summons) that over-stated the impact of her injuries on her running.

The inquiry concludes that it is unlikely that a court would conclude that she deliberately sought to mislead as other legal documents talk about her running being restricted rather than not being able to run at all.

“There have been inconsistencies in Deputy Bailey’s account of events to me and the media that I cannot reconcile.

“It is clear to me, that Deputy Bailey made numerous errors of judgement in her handling of this matter from the outset, during and even after she’d withdrawn the case.

And her approach jars with that of a Government taking action to reduce personal injury payments, claims and insurance costs to people and businesses.

“For these reasons, I am demoting her and removing her as Chairperson of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing.

“I hope this will send a clear message to other public representatives about taking such cases in future.”

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar this afternoon

Meanwhile…

Via Maria Bailey TD:

The Taoiseach has removed me as Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government and I accept this decision.

“I initiated legal proceedings following an incident in 2015 in which I suffered painful injuries. I acted on legal advice throughout the process, but ultimately decided to withdraw the proceedings in an attempt to end the extraordinary media and political pressure that arose from the publication of some details of the case.

I began the process leading to the taking of this case before I was a TD, in relation to an incident that took place over four years ago. I regret very much that I took the case.

“I note that the report by David Kennedy SC has found that this was not a fraudulent claim, and that it would be unlikely that a court would conclude that there was any attempt to mislead on my part. I made no attempt to mislead.

“I recognise and regret the difficulties this issue caused for the Taoiseach and my colleagues during the recent elections. I want to express sincere thanks to members of my family, friends and colleagues who have been personally supportive of me during this recent period.”

Maria Bailey this evening.

Previously: ‘I Found Myself On The Floor’

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40 thoughts on ““There Have Been Inconsistencies In Deputy Bailey’s Account of Events”

  1. Pip

    A truly spectacular own goal. During an important match. On home turf
    However, media are rather good at blurring and or ignoring the difference between fraudulent and exaggerated in their usually breathless attempts to get the story across.
    .

    1. Alex

      Baily stated in her legal affadavit that she couldn’t run for 3 months yet she did.
      Thats a lie, she’s a liar and Varadkar is a snake. Spineless snake

  2. GiggidyGoo

    “There have been inconsistencies in Deputy Bailey’s account of events to me and the media that I cannot reconcile.”
    I’m sure reconciliation will follow in a few weeks.
    A demotion – by Varadkar? ROFL. I’m sure that will hit her badly….noooot
    Emmmm…Alan Farrell?

    1. eoin

      “I am demoting her and removing her as Chairperson of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing.”

      Nooooooooo! She was doing such an outstanding job.Why is Leo collectively punishing us all. I bet Leo appoints someone totally and utterly useless to replace her.

    2. terry

      If there in an inconsistency
      Its a polite reference that a untruth was told to you and an untruth is a lie

    1. Bebe

      Appears so Johnny – see Minister Josepha is first one mentioned. Wonder if that impresses ppl as one would have thought having a ministerial role is more than enough to occupy every waking moment so certainly would not impress me. Reminds me of Angela Kerins holding many roles both within and outside the Rehab group while enjoying payments for external board roles which at the time she declared she donated to charity. A rather poor explanation as she was CEO of a very deserving charity. I have never since donated one cent to Rehab group – would prefer to pi$$ my hard earned cash against the wind.

      Interesting statements by Taoiseach and Ms Bailey. I get the feeling the Taoiseach believes she has suffered enough so allows her remain within the FG fold. Speaks volumes to me but then as many of you know I’m no fan of either – one law for them and another for ordinary Joes.!

    2. GiggidyGoo

      They’re not a very clever set up. They have their website address there totally incorrect.

        1. eoin

          You can still find it all, team etc in Google Cache. Not very bright people at all.

          They still tout personal injury claims as an area of expertise:
          “There are several cases where personal injury should lead to a financial claim. The first and most obvious is when an offender causes the victim direct physical injury, during a crime, or as a crime”

          1. Daisy Chainsaw

            And the rest: “Ireland has what is known as the PIAB, the Personal Injuries Assessment Board. It was set up by the creatively named Personal Injuries Assessment Board Act of 2003. It allows for an objective, independent assessment of claims for injury compensation. Prior to receiving financial compensation for any injury, an application to the PIAB must be made, unless the claimant chooses the litigator route.

            Both options are reasonable, the PIAB is faster, but litigation can yield greater monetary results. In the latter case a solicitor is absolutely necessary to fulfill your claim. In the former, a solicitor is still suggested.

  3. Frank

    “I hope this will send a clear message to other public representatives, Fine Gael will look after their own no matter what. We can quite literally ‘do as we please’ and there is nothing you can do about it.”

  4. eoin

    She had a “statable [sic]” case?

    Isn’t that interesting. Not an arguable case, not a prima facie case, but essentially a case on the bottom rung when it comes to prospects for success.

    “it is unlikely a court would conclude that she deliberately sought to mislead as other legal documents talk about her running being restricted rather than not being able to run at all”

    Weren’t the “other legal documents” prepared at a much later stage in the proceedings and the document closest to the accident overstated the injury? Were there contemporaneous documents [when she claimed she couldn’t run for three months] with a more nuanced claim of her disabilities? I don’t think so.

    Bottom line, this internal FG review is, as the lawyers might say, tendentious and protective of FG (and by extension, Maria Bailey) where it can be and neither the opposition nor media is likely to get much more out of it. Unless the Dean Hotel or a rogue employee wants to have a chat, like.

    She’ll forever be the one who took a dodgy compo claim and withdrew it after she was caught out exaggerating her disability. Given that Leo is dependent on Michael Lowry at present, he was hardly going to take her whip and risk her sitting with the other disgruntled ex-FGer.

    1. B9Com From No

      Bottom line- this was an ass covering exercise
      She’s going to be back on the front bench in no time

  5. Hector Ramirez

    Where’s Ron?

    He’s off posting about this on another story…

    just one man, single handily changing Irish politics for the better, by ranting at randomers.

  6. some old quare

    After today, there are serious Inconsistencies in the running of this site- one letter two numbers comes to mind.

  7. terry

    If there in an inconsistency
    Its a polite reference that a untruth was told to you and an untruth is a lie

  8. V

    Leo keeping a very grip on his seat count more like

    What a load of oul’ guff
    Give over FFS
    Ye”re the party of Government
    At least try and act like it

  9. eoin

    To be clear, when Leo says

    “For these reasons, I am demoting her and removing her as Chairperson of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing”

    He means “For these reasons, I am demoting her BY removing her as Chairperson of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing”

    She’s a backbencher already and one of the minority of FGers not to be appointed a minister. So, the only demotion is her removal as chairperson of a committee.

  10. eoin

    Last night Maria Bailey was as unrepentant as ever

    “I made no attempt to mislead”

    How on earth can she reconcile that with Leo’s statement that the answers given by Maria at that private meeting in May 2019 doesn’t reconcile with “the media”. Also, she was plainly found out about the extent of her injuries and it was only in the wake of the photos of her running shortly after the incident that she withdrew the claim.

  11. eoin

    Leo initiated the 14-day review of the Maria Bailey dodgy compo claim on Wed 29 May 2019. Yesterday was day #56 of the review, with Leo burying the review under Lowry and Boris.

  12. Pip

    Today’s Indo online has a timeline of the Bailey affair.
    I love the bit where it says that the Sean O’Rourke interview caused ‘utter dismay’ in FG.

  13. Mo

    Why did she sign a Legal Document handed to her by a Legal Person without firstly reading it puzzles me! It looks to me as if this whole thing has been carefully staged to play the Fool, and Act like i didn’t know. If this were you, or I in front if a Judge we would be sent Down, without a Doubt. They really think that the People of Ireland are Idiots, and Really, That is the way they are being Treated. Feeble Excuses Leo, and Discreetly covering up the Publication of the People needing to know. Very Clever. Personally i do Not Believe Any of You!!

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