Council officials facing inquiry

Two officials at Trim Town Council have been suspended following an allegation that council workers worked on the home of one of them.

Meath County Council has confirmed that an official investigation is under way into the allegation that council workers resurfaced the driveway of a official in Trim during working hours - an action which was authorised by the other official who has also been suspended.

Neither official has been named by the council.

The work was carried out last Friday.

The official whose home was involved and who has worked with the council for 30 years was suspended on Monday following a complaint, while the other was suspended on Wednesday.

A Meath County Council spokesman said the decision to suspend the two men was taken following an initial investigation.

The men will remain suspended on full pay while a formal investigation will now be carried out by somebody outside Meath.

The spokesman said: "an allegation has been brought to the attention of Meath local authorities alleging that work was carried out on the private property of a local authority staff member by Meath County Council.

"This allegation will be fully investigated."

© 2007 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times