Councillor Pauline Coonan defended her husband, Fine Gael Deputy Noel Coonan, at yesterdays meeting of North Tipp County Council, saying that he was not lying about a promise to restore beds at the Hospital of the Assumption in Thurles.
She said that the Fine Gael Deputy did indeed receive assurances that the promise of beds would be delivered
The announcement was made at a meeting in Thurles a number of weeks ago but Noel Coonan was forced to row back on that promise after the HSE said no real commitment was given to restore the beds.
But at yesterdays meeting of the local authority Pauline Coonan said that Noel stands by the claims he made, saying that he did not lie nor did he make a knee-jerk reaction.
Councillor Jim Ryan said that while he respects that Noel Coonan did attend the meeting when other Oireachtas members did not, clarity is now needed on the issue.
The council will now write to the Department and the HSE seeking total clarity.
