It was confirmed today that John Delaney will now not have to face an Oireachtas committee probe into the infamous €5 million payment from FIFA.
The Oireachtas Transport and Sport Committee decided not to order Delaney to appear at a private meeting today.
But one member of the committee, Sinn Fein TD for Dublin North-West, Dessie Ellis said yesterday that Delaney had contacted him personally and said he had disclosed all he could with regard to the payment. Ellis added that he was supportive of the FAI's decision to take the money.
This is a volte face from the Finglas based Ellis, who said last week he felt Delaney should be called in.
It is believed that Ellis is not the only committee member that Delaney contacted.
The committee is chaired by former All-Ireland winning manager with Galway, John O'Mahony (Fine Gael TD in Mayo).
O'Mahony appeared on the News At One today and expressed some disquiet that Delaney had spoken to committee members before the decision was made via his appearance.
I'm not aware that happened but it is out there. It is being reported. It's something I would feel that shouldn't happen.
This was never going to be either a witch-hunt of John Delaney or the FAI, or a protection of John Delaney and the FAI.
Eventually, it was decided that Delaney wouldn't be called to attend.
A host of Fine Gael TDs and Senators were in favour of him appearing, including Brian Walsh, Helen McEntee, Brendan Griffin and Patrick O'Donovan. As was Kerry Independent who announced recently that Delaney's salary should be halved.
Those who voted against included Clare Fianna Failer Timmy Dooley, Sinn Fein TDs, Ellis and Michael Colreavy and three Labour TDs, Sean Kenny, Michael McNamara and Eamon Maloney.
Timmy Dooley was particularly dismissive of the need to call Delaney and expressed the view that it would degenerate into a 'show trial'.
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