This article is from page 14 of the 2005-11-22 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
A CLAIM that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment owes more than €30,000 to the White hotel group is not true, Inspector Michael Gallagher told the court.
He said information given during the hearing last month by White hotel group accountant, Robert Hurley, was incorrect.
“That department owes no money and owed no money on the date of the hearing,” said the in- spector, who added that a member of staff from the department was in court to give evidence to this effect.
Defending solicitor Eugene O’Kelly said this was a “scurrilous” and “outrageous” allegation of perjury.
Mr Hurley had told the court last month that during the past two to three years, 194 applica-
tions were made to the Department for work joes WNDU
None of the 194 were taken on and the money had not been refunded.
Each application now costs €400.
Meanwhile, the outcome of the two-day court hearing was hugely disappointing and may be appealed, according to the managing director of the two hotels at the centre of the case.
Jim White, a former Fine Gael Donegal South- West TD, told The Clare People, “I am very dis- appointed with this court ruling.
“Tt is a very difficult place to run, Lisdoonvar- na, opening in March and closing in September.
“T think it has been unfairly treated. I still have to decide on an appeal.”
He pointed out that out of the 190 or 200 work- ers employed by the hotel group, just a few were found to be illegal.