Cllr Frank McBrearty Jnr claims his e-mails are being unlawfully monitored

There were lively exchanges at Monday's online meeting of the Lifford-Stranorlar Municipal District as Cllr Frank McBrearty Jnr as he claimed his e-mails were being unlawfully monitored by Donegal County Council

He also revealed to the meeting that he was now a protected witness in an ongoing investigation into Donegal County Council

He brought this news to the meeting through points of order at the start of the proceedings.

He said a year past last Friday the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage had classified him as a 'Protected Disclosure Witness' under the Protected Disclosure Charter Act 2014-2022, amended and passed in the Dáil on January 1, 2023.

"I am now classed as a protected witness in an ongoing investigation into Donegal County Council," he said.

On another point order later in the meeting Cllr McBrearty Jnr claimed his e-mails were being unlawfully monitored by 

Cathaoirleach Cllr Patrick McGowan said he was ruling that point of order was not admissible saying if the councillor wanted to pursue this matter he should do so with the chief executive, the council cathaoirleach or write to the senior management about it.

"As you know this is being dealt with at senior level within the council, this municipal district will not be dealing with it and you know that. There is stuff being circulated to you that we are not privy to and disputes going on and I'm not making a judgment on it but we can't deal with it here, we only deal with local issues," he said.

When Cllr McBrarty Jnr pushed the issue the cathaoirleach said he was not hiding behind bureaucracy or procedures but was deciding not to deal with it.

"This is the wrong forum to deal with these issues, take them up at a full council meeting, with the cathaoirleach, the CEO, or the relevant authorities. Any other issues no problem," he added.

Cllr McBrearty Jnr reminded the cathaoirleach that he had informed him he was a protected witness and claimed he had now interfered with that right.

"You will get your opportunity in the High Court to deal with it," added Cllr McBrearty Jnr.

He also warned he would drive from his home in Raphoe to council headquarters in Lifford to the meeting if the cathaoirleach kept muting his contributions.

Cllr McGowan said everyone had been muted until he let them in.

"I don't care if you drive to Lifford," he added.