The Mayor of Sligo has made an impassioned personal plea to Councillors, officials and local authority staff to 'move on' in the wake of the Councillor Declan Bree bullying investigation and to 'get back to the business of running the Borough'.

"It is crucially important that we return the focus to the responsible job we all have to do. There is a feeling among the the public that all is not well in City Hall and that needs to be addressed.

'We have to carry out our work in a human, cordial, friendly and proper manner," said Councillor Jim McGarry.

The Mayor made his comments as concerns that other Councillors may have intimidated staff in their offices and by email were categorically dismissed at Monday night's monthly meeting at City Hall.

Director of Services, Paula Gallagher, confirmed that no member of the Borough Council, other than Clr. Bree, had any formal complaint made against them by staff.

However, she acknowledged that she had been advised by staff that there were "problems" with emails from some Councillors.

The County Manager, Mr. Hubert Kearns, meanwhile, indicated that staff felt that the attitude of Councillors on certain occasions fell well below the standards expected, with one particular meeting "quite appalling."

"The standard of attitude and comments regarding staff certainly fell well below what would be expected from Councillors," the Manager said.

"Of course Councillors have the right to raise the hard questions, but they must do so in the proper manner. We don't think staff should be abused and the focus should be on the issue at hand, not on getting personal," Mr. Kearns declared.

The matter arose as the County Manager delivered a report to members on the formal investigation which found that Independent Socialist Councillor Declan Bree had bullied three local authority staff members and that six were subjected to inappropriate behaviour.

Mr. Kearins outlined the recommendations of the investigators and said that in accordance with the first and in order to address his statutory duty of care to staff he had to put certain measures in place, whereby the staff members concerned would not be in a position to attend Council meetings and all of the staff involved would have no contact with Clr. Bree.

It is also hoped that a special Steering Committee may be established consisting of Councillors and staff representatives to discuss procedures and training.

The Manager had also referred a copy of the investigation report to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in accordance with the third recommendation, which concerned disciplinary measures.

He said that the Local Authority Professional Officers branch of SIPTU had also instructed all of its members to have no further contact with Councillor Bree.

After Mr. Kearns completed his report, Councillor Bree said he stood over everything he said in respect of a recommendation by senior officials that a sum of €1.3 million be allocated to a private development company to assist them build a bridge adjacent to the Glasshouse Hotel and which led to a walk out of several staff at a meeting in November last.

In respect of the investigation he said it had always been his view that what was going on was "nothing more than a charade" and an attempt to "set up a side show" and divert public attention away from "the scandalous recommendation made by senior Council officials."

Councillor Bree then referred to a meeting between officials and the respective party whips and said that he had been surprised to hear the County Manager's allegation at this meeting that other Councillors were being accused of intimidating Council staff in their offices and also surprised at the Director of Services allegation that Councillors had also intimidated members of staff by email.

"I was particularly surprised to learn that the County Manager had not informed the Gardai of these cases of alleged intimidation," Clr. Bree said.

While the Director of Services in response to a question from Councillor Sean MacManus said that Sinn Fein Councillors were not involved in the alleged intimidation, Councillor Bree stated that this could only be construed that some of the other Councillors of other political persuasions were involved in intimidating individual staff in their offices.

"Clearly, it is unacceptable that a cloud of suspicion can be left hanging over the heads of all other elected Councillors," he added.

Councillor Bree wrote to the Minister for the Environment and the County Manager with a request that all the cases of alleged intimidation which he had in his possession be handed over to the Gardai for immediate independent investigation.

"While I find it very difficult to believe that any elected Councillor would intimidate individual members of staff in their offices, it is clearly in the interest of everyone, both staff and elected representatives, to have these alleged cases of intimidation investigated by the Gardai as a matter of urgency.

"These allegations against Councillors should either be substantiated, or withdrawn," he concluded.

Following Councillor Bree's remarks, other Councillors expressed fears that there was now suspicion hanging over some, or all, of the nine members outside the three Sinn Fein representatives.

Fine Gael Councillor Matt Lyons commented that he was deeply concerned at what had transpired. He was not an elected member at the time of the events which led to the formal investigation but there was now a suggestion that some of the nine Councillors may have made derogatory remarks through emails and he wanted the matter clarified.

Fianna Fail Councillor Rosaleen O'Grady demanded that if an individual Councillor was responsible for bullying or intimidation of staff they be named before the conclusion of the meeting, while Councillor Veronica Cawley said: "We are all under the shadow of suspicion."

At the conclusion of a debate which took up the majority of the meeting, the Director of Services confirmed that no formal complaint had been made against any Councillor, other than Councillor Bree.

"We can't work with a cloud hanging over us and I sincerely hope that we can now move on and tackle the many important issues that are before us, particularly in the very difficult economic situation we find ourselves in," said the Mayor.

- MICHAEL MORAN