Ciaran Brogan Explained

Office:Councillor
Term Start:June 2004
Constituency:Letterkenny Electoral Area
Birth Date:1971 or 1972
Party:Fianna Fáil
Residence:Sockar, Trentagh, Letterkenny
Profession:Businessman

Ciaran Brogan (born 1971 or 1972) is an Irish businessman and Fianna Fáil politician from County Donegal. He is a member of Donegal County Council, representing the Letterkenny Electoral Area, and was a member of Letterkenny Town Council.[1] [2] He topped the poll in elections in 2004 and 2009.[3] [4]

Brogan owns SARK Construction Ltd, based in Letterkenny. Several members of Donegal County Council, including Barry O'Neill, have queried how €4.812 million was spent on SARK's council-backed housing development in Dungloe.[5] The company is known to have received contracts worth more than €10 million.[6] SARK Construction is also a recognised tax defaulter.[7] However, Brogan has vowed to "carefully monitor" any comments made in the council chamber concerning himself or Sark Construction.[8]

He is a known long-term supporter of former government minister Jim McDaid, and walked out in support of McDaid when McDaid withdrew his support for Fianna Fáil in acrimonious circumstances in November 2009.[9] This incident played a significant role in the McDaid faction being left without a candidate ahead of the 2011 general election, and led to the rise of Charlie McConalogue whom Fianna Fáil selected as its candidate instead.[10] Brogan is considered by many to be a successor to McDaid.[10] He declined to run as an independent following this snub by party headquarters.[11] In June 2012, he threatened to make Donegal County Council "unworkable."[12] In November 2012, he clashed with Mayor of Donegal Frank McBrearty, Jnr in the chamber.[13]

In 2006, Brogan claimed €3,499 in expenses for his role on the HSE's Regional West Forum, while in 2007 this increased to €4,041.[14] He has been Mayor of Letterkenny in the past.[15] He was also instrumental in the motion that led to Donegal County Council supporting Dana Rosemary Scallon's candidacy for President of Ireland in 2011.[16]

Less than a week after becoming Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council in 2016, Brogan was charged with a drink-driving offence for which he was later convicted and disqualified from driving for three years.[17] [18] The officer at the scene found a "strong smell" of alcohol from within his vehicle and Brogan verbally abused him, telling him "Who the f*** do you think you are?"[19]

Notes and References

  1. News: Letterkenny Electoral Area . . dead . 21 April 2013 . 25 April 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130425003853/http://www.donegalcoco.ie/council/members .
  2. News: Ciaran Brogan . . dead . 21 April 2013 . 23 October 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131023061116/http://www.fiannafail.ie/people/ciaran-brogan/ .
  3. Web site: Ciaran Brogan . ElectionsIreland.org . 22 April 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131023061242/http://electionsireland.org/6188 . 23 October 2013 .
  4. News: A close race and a long night for candidates. Donegal Democrat. 8 June 2009. 21 April 2013. 9 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150309181904/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/news/donegal-news/a-close-race-and-a-long-night-for-candidates-1-1993508. live.
  5. News: Chris. Ashmore. Questions raised about €4.81m Dungloe housing contract. Donegal Now. 11 October 2011. 11 October 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20150309181940/http://www.donegalnow.com/sp/article_manager/detail/questions_raised_about_481m_dungloe_housing_contract_2. 9 March 2015. dead.
  6. News: Greg. Harkin. FF councillor's firm given €10m. Irish Independent. 20 August 2011. 21 April 2013. 25 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150925025312/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/ff-councillors-firm-given-10m-26763100.html. live.
  7. News: Donegal tax defaulters pay out £1.4 million. Donegal Democrat. 15 March 2010. 21 April 2013. 9 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150309182044/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/news/donegal-news/donegal-tax-defaulters-pay-out-163-1-4-million-1-2002827. live.
  8. News: 'Tendering deficiencies' linked to Councillor Brogan's company. Highland Radio. 11 October 2011. 21 April 2013. 9 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150309182124/http://www.highlandradio.com/2011/10/11/tendering-deficiencies-linked-to-councillor-brogans-company/. live.
  9. News: McDaid may vote against Government. RTÉ News. 30 November 2009. 21 April 2013. 9 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150309182229/http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/1130/124808-politics/. live.
  10. News: Declan. McGee. Ciaran. O'Donnell. McDaid faction could be left without candidate. Donegal Democrat. 24 November 2010. 21 April 2013. 9 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150309182305/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/news/donegal-news/mcdaid-faction-could-be-left-without-candidate-1-2360159. live.
  11. News: Brogan: 'I will not stand in election race'. Donegal Daily. 12 January 2011. 21 April 2013. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030513/http://www.donegaldaily.com/2011/01/12/exclusive-brogan-pulls-out-of-election-race/. live.
  12. News: Cllr Ciaran Brogan threatens to make Council unworkable. Highland Radio. 27 June 2012. 21 April 2013. 9 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150309182348/http://www.highlandradio.com/2012/06/27/cllr-ciaran-brogan-refutes-sinn-fein-claims-that-he-said-hes-make-council-unworkable/. live.
  13. News: Claims of lying and bullying in Council chamber. Donegal News. 28 November 2012. 21 April 2013. 9 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150309182508/http://donegalnews.com/2012/11/claims-of-lying-and-bullying-in-council-chamber/. live.
  14. News: Councillors claim €35,000 of HSE expenses. Donegal Democrat. 7 April 2008. 21 April 2013. 9 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150309182625/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/news/donegal-news/councillors-claim-35-000-of-hse-expenses-1-1984265. live.
  15. News: Michelle. Nic Pháidín. 'Arrogant' HSE criticised over salary threat. Donegal Democrat. 9 May 2007. 21 April 2013. 9 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150309182700/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/news/donegal-news/arrogant-hse-criticised-over-salary-threat-1-1983068. live.
  16. News: Council unanimously backs Dana. Donegal Democrat. 27 September 2011. 21 April 2013. 9 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150309182753/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/news/donegal-news/council-unanimously-backs-dana-1-3092485. live.
  17. News: County mayor charged with drink-driving offence. Irish Independent. 6 April 2016. 2 December 2016. 3 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161203124019/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/county-mayor-charged-with-drinkdriving-offence-34603509.html. live.
  18. News: Donegal County Councillor Ciaran Brogan convicted of drink driving. Highland Radio. 2 December 2016. 2 December 2016. 2 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161202222156/http://www.highlandradio.com/2016/12/02/donegal-county-counillor-ciaran-brogan-convicted-of-drink-driving/. live.
  19. News: Pat. Flanagan. Drunk Donegal politician told Garda 'Who the f*** do you think you are?' when found sleeping in car: Ciaran Brogan had only been Mayor of Donegal a week. Mirror. 2 December 2016. 2 December 2016. 2 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161202222319/http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/crime/drunk-donegal-politician-told-garda-9381557. live.

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