He is one of the highest earners from the direct provision system under the Department of Justice
Séamus McEnaney (Image: ©INPHO/James Lawlor)
Séamus ‘Banty’ McEnaney and 14 of his family members have been paid more than €231million for housing asylum seekers and Ukrainian refugees, new figures show.
The former Monaghan GAA manager is one of the highest earners from the direct provision system under the Department of Justice and has been for a number of years.
The Department of Justice and the Department of Children payments data was published by Extra.ie on Saturday and shows a company that previously oversaw showjumping events in Cork, named Millstreet Equestrian Services, has been paid €104 million to provide temporary accommodation for refugees.
A number of different companies in which McEnaney and members of his families are involved were paid significant amounts between 2012 and 2025.
Oakgate Limited, established in April 2022 with Mr McEnaney’s sisters Bernadette Walsh and Margaret McCarville as directors, has received a total of €16.6million.
Margaret McCarville is also the sole shareholder of JMA Ventures Limited, which has been granted €35.6million.
Corduff JG Enterprises Limited, where Mr McEnaney’s son Gavin is the only director and shareholder, has received €14.8 million.
Copperwhistle Limited, directed by Frank McEnaney, Séamus’s brother, along with Frank’s wife Mary and his son Cahal, has been granted €1.6million.
Extra.ie report that Séamus McEnaney did not wish to comment on the figures when they approached him for comment.
McEnaney has had two spells as manager (2004-2010 and 2019-2022) of his native Monaghan, leading them to the National Football League Division 2 title in 2005 and getting them to the final of the Ulster championship in 2007 for the first time in 19 years.
During his second spell charge, they also reached the provincial decider in 2021, having won Ulster titles under Malachy O’Rourke in both 2013 and 2015.
McEnaney stepped down as Monaghan manager in June 2022 following the county’s All-Ireland qualifier loss to Mayo.
He said in a statement at the time: “The Monaghan players are a very special bunch of men who have been fantastic ambassadors for the people of Monaghan in the past and during my term as manager.
“I have no doubt that they will continue to represent this great county with pride and distinction into the future.”
McEnaney also managed Meath from 2010 to 2012 and Wexford from 2016 to 2017.