The Ghosts of the Hill of Tara have claimed their first scalp. Tommy "pots and pans" Reilly, the chairman of Meath Chamber of Commerce, has stepped down as Fianna Fail candidate for the forthcoming Meath by-election in the aftermath of a Fianna Fail investigation into revelations that he had purchased land in the Tara/Skyrne valley in partnership with disgraced political lobbyist Frank Dunlop through an offshore company.
The details of this land deal were published in the Irish Times and subsequently became the focus of a Fianna Fail inquiry into the matter.
Cllr. Reilly claims he co-operated fully with the investigation but it is understood that the party's General Secretary, Mr Sean Dorgan, was not satisfied that the files produced by Cllr. Reilly to support his position had fully dealt with all the questions raised.
Cllr. Reilly is a vocal supporter of the controversial M3 motorway through the Hill of Tara. Opponents to the motorway describe the proposed route as, "cultural vandalism". Cllr. Reilly has recently equated the Hill of Tara to a, "few pots and pans".
The question we now ask is, was Reilly alone in supporting the M3 whils't having land interests in the area that he did not disclose to the public in his press statements about the Hill of Tara, or are there others like him ? The public have the right to know.
Prehaps its time to take a closer look at the business affairs of those in public life who support the M3 motorway.
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