Blaney branded ‘disgrace’ following Dáil debate

Donegal North East Fianna Fáil TD Niall Blaney has been branded a ‘disgrace’ in the wake of a Dáil debate on the Lost at Sea scheme.

The findings of an investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman were the subject of heated discussion at Leinster House yesterday.

The investigation was prompted by a complaint made by the Byrne family from Bruckless who felt that had been unfairly excluded from the compensation scheme – a claim which was upheld by Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly.

The report’s recommendation for compensation has been rejected however by the Department of Agriculture.

Both Francis and Jimmy Byrne died along with three crew members when the family trawler sank in 1981.

The findings of the inquiry were published late last year and were damning against the workings of the scheme which the Ombudsman found to be “seriously deficient and flawed”.

However, speaking in the Dáil yesterday, Deputy Blaney called into question the independence of the Ombudsman on the basis that a meeting on the report was held with the Ombudsman without a Fianna Fáil representative present.

 Danny Byrne who was in Leinster House for yesterday’s debate has said he was astounded by what Deputy Blaney had to say.

Mr Byrne said he felt it was a “complete disgrace” that a Donegal elected representative would come out against a local family and their fight for justice.