McElvaney defiant despite RTÉ footage

Our Celtic Media Group colleagues at the Anglo-Celt in Cavan spoke to Cllr Hugh McElvaney following the RTÉ programme on Monday night that exposed corruption at local politics level. This is the report, by Seamus Enright

“I will survive. Have no doubt about that,” embattled independent Monaghan County Councillor Hugh McElvaney declared in response to the revelations shown in the RTÉ Investigates, aired last Monday night.

The four-time mayor of County Monaghan, and a winner of eight successive council elections described the exposé into alleged corruption at all levels of the Irish political system as: “The biggest piss-pull in the history of the state, that’s all I’ve got to say about it. RTÉ – caught them out!

“I’ll admit it didn’t show me in a great light for people outside of this Cavan-Monaghan area who don’t know me. It was very bad publicity for me. But it’s the type of client I am that I take these people head-on, and I accept the circumstances,” the ex-Fine Gael councillor stated defiantly.

Cllr McElvaney was recorded suggesting that £10,000 would be “a start” for him acting as a “conduit” in ensuring a smooth planning process for a fictitious wind farm company seeking to invest in the county.

Cllr McElvaney was also captured saying: “You need to sweeten the man up. You know what I mean?”, and explaining that if the deal was successful, he wanted “loads of money”.

In a final phonecall between him and the TV investigations unit he said: “The more that’s in the bag, the keener I will be... Don’t tell anybody else our terms and conditions.”

Asked whether he is now considering legal action against RTÉ over the footage, Cllr McElvaney said he plans to discuss the matter with his family.

“At the moment no, it’s not on my mind. I’ve achieved what I set out to do, and that is to show RTÉ up for what they are,” he said.

Cllr McElvaney also denied that he was considering the possibility of stepping away from politics altogether as a result of the revelations.

“Not at all. You must be joking. No, no, no, I represent the electorate and the electorate elect me, eight times in succession. It’s not the first time RTÉ have done their dirty tricks on me. I will survive. Have no doubt about that,” he said.