IT is absolutely “unacceptable” that city and county mayor Damien Geoghegan has not provided answers in relation to the controversy surrounding the Dungarvan GAA Club's handling of a coronavirus case.
Speaking to Damien Tiernan on Deise Today, Sinn Fein councillor John Hearne denied his party was 'playing politics' on the issue and reiterated that it's time the mayor “stepped up” and provided some information.
Mayor Damien Geoghegan issued a statement to media on Monday, accusing Sinn Fein of trying to “smear” him politically and personally and pointing out that an investigation into the matters at Dungarvan GAA Club are currently ongoing.
However, Cllr John Hearne says that it had been three weeks since the match at the centre of the controversy had been played and voiced his view that the credibility of the role of mayor is now in jeopardy.
“He can't tell people to go and wash their hands and do all the things we need to do. He needs to clear this up for his own sake, for the sake of the club and the sake of the mayoralty," said Cllr Hearne.
He added Damien Geoghegan, as the county's 'first citizen', is the person who “leads our city” and someone we need “fighting our cause”. This wasn't happening, he maintained, because of this controversy.
Damien Geoghegan has confirmed that he is Covid officer at the club and has previously said he was unaware that any player was awaiting the results of testing.
Both he and Dungarvan GAA Club have been criticised as a result of the incident which saw a Dungarvan player play the Waterford County Intermediate Football Final while awaiting the result of a Covid test. This came back positive the day after the match.
To hear the coverage of the Dungarvan GAA issue on this morning's 'Deise Today' click below...
If you want to listen to the full Deise Today from this morning, meanwhile, click below...
