Cathaoirleach council says it will look into allegations of bullying

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Donegal County Council’s cathaoirleach said he would consider whether allegations of intimidation by a councilor against Cllr Frank McBrearty would be referred to the Civil Service Standards Commission.

Councilor Jack Murray confirmed that he received a letter this weekend from Fine Gael adviser Martin Harley making allegations against the independent adviser.

He said the letter contained “a very serious allegation and that this is a serious matter that must be addressed.”

Sinn Féin’s adviser said he “will explore all avenues open to me”. The letter, which was also sent to council chief executive John McLaughlin, alleges continued intimidation by Cllr McBrearty of councilors and council staff during council meetings.

Speaking on Monday, Cllr Murray said no complaints have been filed by the council with the Public Service Standards Commission (Sipo). He said the decision to send a complaint to Sipo is the responsibility of the cathaoirleach and the general manager.

Cllr McBrearty raised the issue of the letter at Monday’s virtual Donegal County Council meeting following a report in the Sunday Independent.

READ MORE: Donegal advisor vows to stand up for his reputation

He demanded a full apology from Cllr Harley, alleging he made insulting comments about herself and about her family members.

Asking Cllr Murray to confirm which complaints had been filed with Sipo, Cllr McBrearty said he had the right to defend himself against the “false allegations”.

“Donegal County Council is fully responsible for allowing this to happen to me and my family. I have a right to my reputation as a public representative, ”he said. He said he couldn’t have intimidated Cllr Harley at board meetings for the past two and a half years because he “hasn’t spoken to her.”

In his letter, Cllr Harley said he could no longer take “bullying, abuse and abusive language”.

“Something has to be done about it because it is about workplace bullying, which is not accepted in any workplace on this island,” he said.

Speaking after the reunion, Cllr Harley denied ever making any insulting comments about Cllr McBrearty or her family.

He confirmed that the letter he sent raised concerns about Cllr McBrearty’s behavior over a period of time that amounts to workplace bullying. Cllr Harley said he left the meeting for a period due to a verbal attack by Cllr McBrearty on a senior council staff member.

“I was elected to this council to help people, not to be mistreated by another councilor,” he said.

Cllr McBrearty said after the meeting that he “completely refutes” the bullying allegations. He said that Cllr Harley had “damaged my reputation and my reputation as an honest law-abiding citizen and law-abiding member of the local government. And the reason they do it is because I speak out against the systemic corruption in Donegal politics and Donegal local government.

On Sunday, Cllr McBrearty apologized “wholeheartedly” to mica activist Michael Doherty for sending him a WhatsApp message containing “vulgar and inappropriate” language.

Cllr Harley’s letter follows a series of clashes at board meetings over the past few months, usually during discussions of the mica crisis.

Cllr Murray told Cllr McBrearty to leave a meeting in October for “disruptive behavior”. Cllr McBrearty has said he is challenging his dismissal legally.

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