Frank Dunlop charged with Corruption

Dublin lobbyist, ex-journalist and former Fianna Fáil and Government Press Secretary Frank Dunlop (left) was arrested by members of the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) yesterday afternoon and has appeared in court in Dublin on corruption charges.

He is accused of bribing eight public representatives, six from Fianna Fáil and two from Fine Gael, and it is alleged that he paid them sums ranging from Ir£ 1000 to Ir£ 3000 to vote in favour of rezoning land at Carrickmines.

Those named in the charge sheets as having been bribed by Frank Dunlop are former Senators Liam Cosgrave of Fine Gael and Don Lydon of Fianna Fáil.
Also named are Fianna Fáil Councillors Tony Fox, Sean Gilibride, Colm McGrath, the late Jack Larkin, the late Cyril Gallagher and Fine Gael's late Councillor Tom Hand.

The money is alleged to have been handed over at the Davenport Hotel and at Buswell's Hotel in Dublin, at Conway's pub, at Mr. Dunlop's own offices, and in the case of the former Senator Don Lydon, at St. John of Gods' in Dublin.

Five of the charges relate to alleged payments he made to Liam Cosgrave and five more relate to Tony Fox (right), who is still representing Fianna Fáil on Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

Detective Garda Martin Harrington from the CAB told the court that Frank Dunlop was arrested yesterday. When he was charged with the offences, he replied: "We always knew this day was coming and I will not be contesting the charges."

The court was told the Book of Evidence in the case was ready and Dunlop was handed a copy of it in the courtroom.

Judge Cormac Dunne acceded to a request by counsel for Frank Dunlop and sent the case forward to the next sitting of the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
He told him that if he intended to rely on alibi evidence he was to inform the prosecution and he remanded Dunlop on bail of his own bond of € 100.

For those who are not familiar with Frank Dunlop, or are too young to remember his past, it is worth to reflect on the career of the now 61-year-old Dubliner, who was born in Co. Kilkenny.

He first came to the public's attention when he was appointed press secretary of Fianna Fáil in 1974, with an office based at Leinster House. He then became head of the Irish Government's Information Service and Government Press Secretary (under Taoisigh Jack Lynch, Charles J. Haughey and Garret FitzGerald) from 1977 to 1982. The special position had been established on Dunlop's own recommendation.

His role involved developing relationships with the media, especially The Irish Times, the Irish Independent, other newspapers and RTÉ. (There were no other authorised radio stations in Ireland at that time, although there were quite a number of illegal broadcasters.)

Prior to Dunlop's appointment, the Government Information Service was the established unit of the Taoiseach's office for the dissemination of information relating to government activities. Dunlop described its role to the Mahon Tribunal in 2003 as being "a post office - it just delivered copies of statements, speeches, announcements and CSO details to the news desks of the papers; there was no substantive policy discussions with the media prior to that time".

Dunlop's objective was to facilitate 'an understanding in the media of what Fianna Fáil was doing or was about at that time'. This role enabled him to develop significant relationships with political correspondents, news reporters, editorial personnel and politicians.

Following a change in government, Dunlop was established as a civil servant with the rank of Assistant Secretary. He moved to the Department of Education when John Boland was the Minister, and his role was liaison with the media. He also made some inputs on policy matter on education.

Subsequently he moved with Boland to the Department of the Environment and worked there for about two years as Assistant Secretary, with responsibility for media matters. But he had no influence on planning matters then.

In 1986 Frank Dunlop, then aged 39, left the Civil Service and became a public relations consultant with the Dublin firm Murray Consultants. He had a director's role which involved developing a portfolio of clients. Dunlop's prior experience in government and the Civil Service made him uniquely qualified as a lobbyist, and he made extensive use of his contacts.

Where and when he began bribing politicians of various levels will undoubtedly be established during his trial. But one thing is certain: He is only the very small tip of an immense iceberg of corruption that was - and still is - an integral part of Irish politics.

The Emerald Islander

Bertie Ahern rejects Bribery Allegation

Today Bertie Ahern (left) has told the Mahon Tribunal (Tribunal of Inquiry into Planning Matters and Payments) he "absolutely rejects" the allegation that he received a bribe of £ 30,000 to block tax designation for a Dublin shopping centre.

The former Taoiseach, who resigned in May with allegations of financial improprieties hanging over him, returned to the tribunal to give evidence about his involvement in a proposal to build a national stadium in Neilstown and the development of the Liffey Valley shopping centre at Quarryvale.

He said he has "no recollection of discussing tax designation with the developers of shopping centres in Quarryvale and Blanchardstown".
Ahern, who was Minister for Finance in the 1990s, explained that he held the department line in refusing to give tax designation for the Blanchardstown or Quarryvale shopping centres.

This was despite calls for tax breaks for Blanchardstown by the then Tánaiste, the late Brian Lenihan (Snr), the leaders of Fine Gael and of the Workers' Party, and local councillors.

Ahern remembered that he met both Owen O'Callaghan, the developer of Quarryvale, and John Corcoran, the developer of Blanchardstown, to be updated about the projects. But he had no recollection of discussing tax designation with either man.

The former Fianna Fail leader, who is still a TD for his Dublin constituency (now as a rather quiet backbencher) said he did "not receive one cent from Mr. O'Callaghan" and did not receive money to block the designation for Blanchardstown.

He recalled meeting O'Callaghan in his constituency office in 1998, where he told him he would not support the proposal to build a national stadium at Neilstown, because he had his own plan to build one elsewhere.

The tribunal continues its inquiry and Bertie Ahern is scheduled for two days of testimony.

The Emerald Islander

FF Dinosaur appears before Mahon Tribunal

The Mahon Tribunal at Dublin Castle has continued with its investigation into planning irregularities and corruption.
It heard evidence today from one of Fianna Fáil's real old dinosaurs of the Haughey era, the 68-year-old former EU Commissioner and cabinet minister Padraig Flynn.
He confirmed that he had more than £ 71,000 in a non-resident account in London, but said he has no records to back up his evidence that "over half of this was spent on election expenses".

Most of the money in the AIB account in England came from the £ 50,000 the developer Tom Gilmartin gave to Flynn and which, he says, was "a personal political donation".

The long-time senior Fianna Fáil politician and former Minister for Justice, whose backwards-looking arch-conservative and misogynist attitudes earned him the nickname "Flynn-stone", told the Tribunal that the "external account" in an AIB branch in London was opened by his wife, Dorothy, "using an address in which the couple never lived".

He said that withdrawals totaling £ 37,000 were spent on election expenses, but he has no records. A further £ 35,000 went on "investments in National Irish Bank" handled by his daughter, Beverley Flynn (right). This is the same Beverley Flynn who is still a TD, was re-admitted into FF a day before Bertie Ahern announced his resignation, and immediately stated that she would like to be a minister. Some people really have necks that would look too large on bulls or elephants...

Padraig Flynn denied today that all the investment money for the National Irish Bank came from withdrawals from this AIB account. He says some of the money came "from cash savings in his safe at home". So it appears that the Taoiseach is not the only Fianna Fáil politician who deals a lot in cash. The whole party seems to have a habit of grabbing and stacking money where ever it becomes available.

In other European countries this would be seen as corruption and inappropriate, but in Ireland - and especially in Fianna Fáil - it is perceived as "the lads having some fun". And whatever else he did or did not, Padraig Flynn was certainly a very active member of the inner circle of the FF lads...

The Emerald Islander

The Man who cannot be responsible

John Gormley, leader of the Green Party and Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, is once again washing his hands in a large bowl of innocence and ignorance. In a luke-warm interview with Pat Kenny on RTÉ Radio 1 the once fiery critic of the FF government said this morning that he "cannot be responsible" for actions, policies, mistakes [and the many shenanigans] of Fianna Fáil.

Despite Pat Kenny's best efforts to bring his interview partner to a serious statement on the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern's unsolved financial irregularities and the revelations at the Mahon Tribunal, John Gormley (photo) weaseled out and produced once again his meanwhile only too well-known excuses. As the "line minister" who is responsible for the Mahon Tribunal in a technical and administrative sense, he pointed out that he could not comment on its procedures. Instead he urged people "to trust in the competence of Mr. Justice Mahon and his excellent team".

No one I know questions the competence and sincerity of Judge Alan Mahon and his tribunal. We all know that it is probably the only way to bring to light the numerous skeletons hidden in the cupboards of Bertie Ahern and Fianna Fáil. But many people here question the sincerity and political judgment of John Gormley and his fellow Green Party TDs.

Of course he is not - and never can be - responsible for Fianna Fáil and their actions. That was a rather cheap excuse from a man whose intelligence is well known and whose opposition speeches I used to read with joy. Nor has he anything to do with Bertie Ahern's financial matters. Of course not! But he and his party are responsible for keeping FF in government and Bertie in charge. No one forced them into the coalition with their once worst political enemy, and no one I know understands why they did it. (I expect that the Irish voters will give them the same kind of message in the next election that they gave the PDs in the last one...)

Like many Irish people I was deeply disappointed by the Greens' abandonment of their long held principles when they crossed the line and joined the government.
But an even deeper disappointment is their silence and self-imposed ignorance on the matters that recently came to light at the Mahon Tribunal. Even the former Tanaiste and PD leader Michael McDowell (whose direct adversary John Gormley was for many years, standing in the same constituency and - by winning his seat - ending McDowell's political career for good) had more critical words for Bertie Ahern when he was his deputy and coalition partner.

It appears that Gormley and his party have adopted a kind of bunker mentality. As long as they don't make any big mistakes themselves, they are save inside the government and getting on with their silent transformation of Ireland into a country that complies with their ideas of green and environmentally friendly.
For that they seem to be willing to close their eyes to everything else and drive their bio-diesel-powered green bulldozer at high speed around the country. One day, however, they might realise that they are driving directly towards the Cliffs of Moher. By then it might well be too late for a U-turn, and 25 years of good policies as a serious and widely respected opposition party will have been wasted, for three men's personal desire of power.

The Emerald Islander

Can one believe Bertie Ahern?

Earlier today the Taoiseach said that he thinks the public believes his testimony at the Mahon Tribunal. As he arrived at Dublin Castle for another long day of interrogation, he was asked by reporters if he thought the public believed him.
All Mr. Smile, Bertie Ahern said: "Yes, totally."

It might well be that a certain portion of the population - especially the members and lifelong supporters of Fianna Fáil - would agree with this short statement of confidence. But an increasing number of people are seriously concerned about the Taoiseach and wonder if one can believe what he is saying about his personal finances. (And depending on that, if one can believe anything he says...)

We all have personal experience with earning and handling money, keeping books and accounts, and declaring and paying taxes. There is nothing particularly special about it, as we are all equal before the law and before the revenue commissioners. Or are we not?
Well, it appears that - like on George Orwell's "Animal Farm" - some people in Ireland are more equal than others. And, as seen with the late Charles Haughey, they get away with it if they just pretend long and stubbornly enough to be "innocent" or not to be able to remember certain things and events.

I don't know about you, but if I would receive a cheque over £5000, I would remember that, as well as the person, company or organisation it came from. So when Bertie Ahern tells the Mahon Tribunal that he cannot explain the source of a £5000-cheque cashed at the Irish Permanent building society on the very day his savings account was opened, its sounds strange, to say the least. After all, he is not some aged pensioner suffering from Alzheimer's disease, but our Prime Minister and leader of the largest political party in the country. And at the time in question he was Minister for Finance, responsible for the nation's wealth, the government's budget and the setting and collecting of our taxes. That a man with such high financial responsibilities, who is also a qualified accountant, cannot recall the origin of a £5000-cheque given to him is alarming.

Liar or Fool?
The questions asked by Judge Alan Mahon, his tribunal and the whole country are rather simple, but very important:
Is Bertie Ahern a liar?
Or is he a bumbling fool, unable to recall the source of a significant sum of money donated to him personally?
If he really lies about the cheque, for whatever reason, he could not be trusted with any other matter and should not be Taoiseach or hold any position of political power. And if he is unable to remember important financial transactions, the question needs to be asked if he is actually in command of all his faculties and able to lead the country, as well as if he was ever capable to head the Department of Finance. In both cases he should seriously consider to step down and make room for someone more able (and with much better memory).

One is compelled to agree with Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore, who said today that the Taoiseach's situation was now "a national embarrassment" and called on the Tánaiste and other ministers "to call time on his leadership".
Once again one would have also hoped to hear a word from the Green Party, whose coalition with Fianna Fáil keeps Bertie Ahern in office and power. But - once again - John Gormley and his people demonstrate that they crossed the line and moved completely into Bertie's camp, leaving behind their once sharp minds, critical remarks and sound judgments of Irish politics.

In English the Irish word Taoiseach means "Leader", just as it means Führer in German and Duce in Italian. But in clear contrast to its German and Italian equivalents, the word Taoiseach is not tainted by history - yet.
Should, however, Bertie Ahern become the second Irish Prime Minister - after Charles Haughey - to be found untrustworthy with money, or even corrupt and lying to a tribunal established by parliament, the word might well become the synonym for a corrupt leader, instead of meaning simply "Leader".

The Emerald Islander

A Pot calling the Kettle black...

Today the Chairman of the Mahon Tribunal asked counsel for the Taoiseach to withdraw what he called "disgraceful and offensive comments". Judge Alan Mahon (left) said suggestions that the tribunal was biased and had an agenda were untrue. He told Conor Maguire SC that comments made by him suggested the Mahon Tribunal was a witch-hunt pursued by a bunch of crooks. He said the suggestion that the tribunal consisted of three judges on an illegal, corrupt and criminal frolic of their own was offensive and should be withdrawn.

The exchange between the two men lasted for more than half an hour, and members of the public clapped and cheered in support of the tribunal during the exchange.
Judge Mahon said Bertie Ahern's senior counsel was in effect accusing the tribunal of being corrupt. This - the judge said - was disgraceful.

The tribunal also formally ruled that the Taoiseach was not prejudiced by the non-circulation of correspondence with a number of stockbroking firms, regarding the Fianna Fáil fundraising activities.
After four hours in the tribunal's witness box yesterday, Bertie Ahern spent a second consecutive day at the Mahon Tribunal today. One begins to wonder if and how these frequent appearances before the investigation reduce the Taoiseach's ability to lead the country and government, and in which way the clouds hanging over him have a lasting effect on his personal and political reputation, which could also reflect back on Ireland as a whole.

In the light of recent revelations about Bertie Ahern's finances and his apparent inability to recall the origins of various large sums of money, one is moved to question his credibility. Anyone I know would remember the receipt of a £5000-cheque, and who he received it from. This should be even more the case for a man who has been dealing with money all his adult life, first as an accountant, then as a politician and especially as the country's Minister for Finance and Taoiseach.

The verbal attacks made by Ahern's senior counsel yesterday on the Mahon Tribunal are in particular unfortunate and uncalled for. It appears that here is a rather dark pot calling the shining and well-polished kettle black...

The Celia Larkin Link

Meanwhile another twist in Bertie's never-ending story emerged. The Taoiseach has denied that a £ 30,000 loan from a Fianna Fáil fundraising account that Celia Larkin (right) - then and for many years his mistress and partner - used to buy a house has any implications for him.
Speaking as he left the Mahon Tribunal this evening, Bertie Ahern said the decision was one for the trust and it was entitled to do it.
It emerged this afternoon that Ms. Larkin is the registered owner of a house bought using a loan of £ 30,000 from the St. Luke's Building Trust account of the Fianna Fáil central Dublin constituency organisation. It was loaned in 1993 to assist with the purchase of the property.

A solicitor for Ms. Larkin and her aunt argued that the matter is not connected to the tribunal and does not fall under its terms of reference.
In the early 1990s, the house in which Celia Larkin's aunts lived with friends was put on the open market. It was proposed that the women remaining could rent the upstairs portion of the house. But concerns about that arrangement were expressed and Ms. Larkin assisted with the purchase. The house cost over £ 40,000 and one of Ms. Larkin's aunts provided part of the price. The property was then bought in Ms. Larkin's name and she undertook the maintenance.

Bertie Ahern told the tribunal this afternoon that there was no legal agreement drawn up for the loan, but "it may have been recorded in minutes or notes". It was agreed if the house was sold, or if the trustees of the Building Trust Account sought repayment, the funds would be returned immediately.
Ahern also confirmed that the loan was only repaid "since [last] Christmas". He said that the funds repaid for the loan with interest will be returned to the Building Trust Account.

The Emerald Islander

The Taoiseach keeps digging

One of the principle rules from the University of Life is: If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.
But is seems that such basic rules of common sense do not apply to Irish Prime Ministers. We all still remember - either with fondness or with horror (depending on our political views and affiliations) - the late Charles James Haughey (right), who kept digging until he stood up to his neck in mud and had to be ousted by his own devious mistress.

The current Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern (left), seems now to be following very faithfully in the footsteps of his former mentor and leader, as he comes under ever more pressure over his personal finances. The muddle Bertie got himself into is now so confusing that it looks as if he himself has lost the plot, maybe somewhere on the way from his separation to Manchester, or on the way back from Manchester to the Galway Races.

In a statement to the Dáil he insisted today that he did not mislead parliament in relation to his personal finances. Nevertheless he did go to the High Court, to prevent the Mahon Tribunal (which investigates planning irregularities in Dublin and - connected with that - irregularities of the Taoiseach's finances) from asking him certain questions. This is particularly strange since Bertie Ahern himself was instrumental in setting up the tribunal.

To no one's suprise opposition leaders have been criticising and challenging Bertie Ahern and demanded clarity from the country's leader and former Minister for Finance.

The Taoiseach said he had "clear legal advice" that it would "not be correct for him to answer questions on statements he made to the Dáil" and that the substance of what he said had been repeated outside the house.

However, Labour leader Eamon Gilmore (left) said Mr. Ahern was "either trying to hide something or to buy time". He added that the Taoiseach's court action had nothing to do with parliamentary privilege but was only about protecting himself. He said the Taoiseach's last minute rush to the court was to play for time and to prevent the tribunal from asking questions.

Earlier Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny (right) claimed that there was "a serious gap between the information provided by the Taoiseach to the Mahon Tribunal and statements he made in the Dáil in 2006". Speaking on RTÉ Radio, Mr. Kenny said he did not accept that Bertie Ahern had no alternative but to lodge the High Court challenge. He then suggested the Taoiseach could have rejected the advice of his legal team and added that Ahern's move could well have the consequence of delaying the tribunal and increasing its costs.

Last month government TDs backed a motion in the Dáil affirming confidence in the Mahon Tribunal, and looking forward to receiving its report "expeditiously". But the opposition parties claim the tribunal's work will be delayed by the Taoiseach's High Court challenge to three aspects of its investigation into his personal finances.

Last night the Green Party, in the typical wishy-washy way it has adopted since it joined the government, said that it "noted the legal move" and said it "hoped the legal action would not delay the inquiry's work".

Well, hope is good, but also entirely passive. And this has become the hallmark of the Green Party in government, being Bertie's passive poodle and nodding obediently to every word the Taoiseach utters. Once the standard bearers for a better future, John Gormley's Greens now wave the - also green - flag of Fianna Fail. Meanwhile the Taoiseach, in the tradition of Charles J. Haughey, keeps digging in his hole.

The Emerald Islander