Urgent: €3,000 Payment to Councillor Britto Pereppadan Referenced to SIPO

UPDATE: A complaint against Fine Gael Councillor Britto Pereppadan regarding a suspicious €3,000 payment from an Indian nurse has been officially referred to the Standards in Public Office Committee (SIPO) by the South Dublin County Council. This urgent development raises serious ethical concerns about Pereppadan’s financial dealings amid allegations of unlawful agency fees.

The payment in question was deposited into Pereppadan’s bank account as a debt repayment from a business associate of his father, Baby Pereppadan, who is also a councillor. Britto claims he was unaware of the circumstances surrounding the payment, which has been linked to accusations of exploitative fees charged to migrant nurses seeking employment in Irish care homes.

A report by The Journal Investigates in August 2025 revealed that Baby Pereppadan holds a 50% stake in Angel Care Consultancy Limited, a recruitment agency facing serious allegations of charging illegal fees. The agency reportedly demanded payments ranging from €3,000 to €3,600 from nurses, on top of their own travel and examination costs, to secure jobs in Ireland.

Britto Pereppadan has stated that he received the payment as a personal debt owed to him, denying any formal connection to the recruitment agency. He emphasized that he had no knowledge of the nurse’s payment being categorized as a recruitment fee. Meanwhile, Baby Pereppadan expressed shock at the allegations, asserting that he had no involvement in his company’s daily operations.

The controversy escalated as People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy filed separate complaints against both Pereppadans, questioning their adherence to ethical standards. Murphy welcomed the council’s decision to escalate the issue to SIPO, stating, “The Fine Gael leadership cannot continue to sit on their hands… Do they stand over Cllr. Pereppadan continuing as a Fine Gael Councillor given the allegations?”

In its review, South Dublin County Council found that no findings could be made against Baby Pereppadan; however, he acknowledged a lack of transparency in his ethics declarations regarding his directorship at Angel Care. Following this, he amended his declarations to reflect his involvement, which has now been added to the public record.

Currently, the council’s registrar deemed Murphy’s complaints regarding Britto Pereppadan’s alleged receipt of an unlawful agency fee as warranting further investigation, leading to SIPO’s involvement. A spokesperson for Fine Gael indicated the party would await SIPO’s findings before determining any next steps regarding the Pereppadans.

This developing story raises critical questions about ethical governance and transparency within local politics, affecting public trust and confidence in elected officials. As the investigation unfolds, many are watching closely to see how this situation will impact both councillors and their party.

Stay tuned for updates on this urgent matter as it continues to develop. Readers are encouraged to share this article to spread awareness of these serious allegations.