Brady Accuses Matthews Of Jeopardising Community Buildings Deal

Delgany’s Pam & Donal Dunne at Tinahely Point To Point 1994

atest press release from John Brady TD, issued on Monday, February 7th 2022…

Wicklow Sinn Féin TD John Brady has cautioned against the naivety of certain public representatives inserting themselves into the middle of commercial negotiations in a naked attempt to accrue publicity, ignorant to the fact that their actions will inevitably significantly weaken the negotiating hand of the relevant public body and subsequently lead to the imposition of a significantly increased monetary cost to the taxpayer.

Matthews

The attempt at publicity could significantly increase the costs of the properties pushing them beyond the means of the council.

Deputy Brady said: “Having been engaged directly with the Bank of Ireland for several months as to their plans for their former branch buildings in Tinahely and Carnew, I have learned that it is the explicit intention of the Bank to dispose of their former branch buildings on the open property market in the coming months. The former Branch building in Rathdrum was sold before Christmas.

“Despite my appeals that the buildings be made available to the community, the Bank of Ireland responded by stating that it has no intention of engaging in leases or handing them over to the community, and that it is their intention to prepare the buildings in Tinahely and Carnew to be put on the market in the second quarter of 2022.

“Having also been engaged with Wicklow County Council they have an interest in securing these buildings for the community, I believe that by his public utterances on the subject over the last week, Stephen Matthews has succeeded in undermining Wicklow County Council’s position, and potentially scuppering a possible deal on the properties.

“In alerting the Bank of Ireland to Council’s interest, he has allowed the Bank of Ireland the opportunity to increase their asking price if they see fit. All at the expense of the ordinary taxpayer.

“I would encourage Matthews to conduct his due diligence in the future, lest his future actions incur more penalties for the ordinary people of Wicklow or result in the loss of possible valuable community facilities.”