THE MAYOR OF Limerick city is facing calls to step down in the wake of news stories over the weekend about an internal garda probe into the handling of an investigation into a car crash he was involved in last year.
Jerry O’Dea was involved in a single-car road crash on 11 December last year when his car overturned on the outskirts of the city.
The matter was subsequently investigated by gardaí but no prosecution was brought or summons issued. The Sunday Times reported yesterday that the matter is now the subject of an internal garda investigation.
O’Dea issued a statement in response to media requests yesterday, saying he considered the matter closed:
In December 2014 I was involved in a single-vehicle road traffic accident. I was the sole occupant of the car. Following the accident I co-operated fully with An Garda Siochana and subsequently made no further contact with An Garda Siochana about the issue.
In early May 2015 I was informed there would be no action against me. I consider the matter closed.
Fianna Fáil has said it is an operational matter for gardaí and that all individuals involved should cooperate with the inquiry.
Fianna Fáil councillors in Limerick met to discuss O’Dea’s future last night, but he has faced calls to resign.
Anti-Austerity Alliance councillor Cian Prendiville is among those who have said said the mayor should go.
“I never thought he should have been mayor in the first place,” Prendiville said.
O’Dea is the owner of O’Dea’s bar in Limerick.
He was elected to the council in 2014 and was later voted mayor as part of a Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael pact.
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