Council makes gratuity payment to former Mayo TD

ELECTED and former members of Mayo County Council were paid €891,877 in expenses, allowances and gratuity payments last year.

The payments covered the 30 serving members aa well as five retired representatives, including former TD Beverley Flynn who received a gratuity payment of €10,245.

Of the sitting councillors, Mulranny-based independent Councillor Michael Holmes received the highest amount (€43,967), a figure that included €15,000 for the second half of his term as cathaoirleach.

He is followed by the current cathaoirleach, Councillor Al McDonnell, who got €39,515, an amount including the first half of his term in the position.

Others to receive in excess of €30,000 were Tom Connolly, Rose Conway-Walsh, Gerry Coyle, Richard Finn, Gerry Ginty, Christy Hyland, Michael Loftus, Tereasa McGuire, Gerry Murray and Annie May Reape.

The majority of those had additional payments due to the fact they served in the chair of stragetic policy committees which carries a renumeration of €6,000 per annum.

However, Conway-Walsh, now a senator, was paid a gratuity of €22,764 after stepping down from the council on her election to An Seanad. Her replacement, Teresa Whelan, was paid €12,043 for her service up to December 31 last.