[Today’s Kerryman, not online]

Councillor Danny Healy Rae this week defended payments of close to €300,000 by Kerry County Council to his family’s plant hire company, saying contractors are not stealing the money but working very hard for it. Healy Rae plant Hire Ltd, of which Cllrs Danny Healy Rae and Johnny Healy Rae are directors, topped the list of Kerry County Council payments to plant hire and haulage contractors in 2013, with payments totalling €294, 192. The Kilgarvan plant hire company has consistently been among the top earners from council contracts and has been paid almost €1.9m by the local authority since 2008.

Jaykers.