Fianna Fáil says it is seeking an "urgent explanation" after it emerged one of its Waterford election candidates is disqualified from acting as a company director.
Councillor Eddie Mulligan received the High Court order because of his management of a family hair salon business.
The Irish Times reports that Councillor Mulligan was a director and shareholder of Hype Hair Salon Ltd, which owed the Revenue €153,000 when it was placed in liquidation in 2014.
According to the 2017 annual report of the Office of Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE), Eddie Mulligan was disqualified by the High Court that year from acting as a company director for seven years, due to his management of the business.
The ODCE said the directors, Councillor Mulligan and his wife Dervla, had not cooperated fully with the liquidator, and that the company paid some creditors, while not in a position to pay its tax debts.
The city councillor told the Irish Times that the financial problems were “legacy” issues related to the recession.
He would not tell the newspaper if he had told Fianna Fáil about the disqualification, but a spokesman for the party said it wasn't aware of the High Court order.
The spokesman added that Fianna Fáil would be seeking an urgent explanation.
Councillor Mulligan was added to the party ticket in November 2018 and is running alongside TD Mary Butler for next month's general election.
