Former UL president paid 175,000 while on sabbatical from teaching course that doesnt exist [Video]

The former UL president (University of Limerick), who resigned amid a series of scandals, is enjoying a year-long sabbatical on a salary of €175,000, and will return next year to take up a professorship for a course that does not yet exist, writes Sarah McGuinness.

The revelation came as the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee learned that the university’s €11m purchase of 20 homes for student accommodation has been referred to An Garda Síochána for investigation.

Professor Kerstin Mey resigned in June after it emerged the university paid €5m above market price for the properties, located in Rhebogue.

However, the PAC learned yesterday that Ms Mey is not gone from the university entirely.

In what was described as a “shocking omission” by the university, the German academic will return as Professor of Visual Culture next September.

She will be paid in the region of €175,325 for her new role.

After repeated questioning from TDs, UL acting president Professor …