The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) has requested Fine Gael election candidate Verona Murphy not to make any comment on allegations contained in a report in the Irish Independent concerning a settlement concluded with a former employee of the assocation. The settlement contained a strict confidentiality clause which the IRHA must respect.

The Management Committee of the IRHA has expressed its solidarity and support for Ms. Murphy. The IRHA is a statement released on Friday said: “Verona Murphy has been an extraordinarily dedicated President for the last 4 and a half years. She has devoted time and energy way above anything that could be expected of a voluntary position. At all times, she has shown compassion and concern for the problems encountered by every member who has sought her counsel and assistance.”

“The descriptions or terms being applied to Verona by some commentators do not represent or reflect the person that she is, the person that we know. Verona is person of integrity, a person who is warm, generous, kind and strives to be a force for good. She is someone who strives to avoid division and seeks to bring people together. A person who, like everyone, is fallible, but knows when to put her hand up and acknowledge that she has made a mistake.”

The statement concluded: “When the writ was moved for the By Election on 7 November 2019, Verona Murphy advised the Management Committee that she was standing aside as President for the duration of the Election. We wish Verona and her family the best in the election campaign.”

About the Author: John Loughran