The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is expected to initiate a raft of criminal proceedings against people suspected of involvement in planning corruption following the landmark conviction of George Redmond yesterday. Paul Cullen and Conor Lally report.
The former government press secretary, Mr Frank Dunlop, is likely to be used as a "star witness" by CAB to bring prosecutions against many of the figures who have featured at the Mahon tribunal in recent years, according to informed sources.
As Redmond, the former assistant Dublin city and county manager, spent his first night on remand in custody in Clover Hill prison last night pending sentencing next month, Opposition politicians called for a re-examination of other cases involving planning corruption.
Redmond could face up to seven years in jail, as well as two fines of €12,700, after he was found guilty of two counts of corruption. By a 10-2 majority, the jury in the Circuit Criminal Court found that Redmond received £10,000 as a bribe from garage owner Mr Brendan Fassnidge relating to the sale of a right of way from Dublin County Council at the Lucan by-pass. Redmond had denied the charges.
In spite of several memory lapses and contradictions in Mr Fassnidge's evidence, the jury accepted his account of how he handed the money to Redmond in a brown envelope at his home in Castleknock in 1988. Three days later, he obtained the lucrative right of way linking his filling station with the by-pass.
The 79-year-old former official showed no emotion as the jury delivered its verdict following six hours and 42 minutes of deliberation since the previous day. Judge Michael White then remanded him in custody for sentencing until December 17th.
Redmond's lawyers are expected to produce medical evidence to show why he should not receive a custodial sentence, and may renew their complaints about the effect of adverse media publicity on his case.
An appeal is also being considered. However, the DPP must also decide whether to prosecute him on two further charges.
While not the first conviction of an official under bribery and corruption legislation, yesterday's verdict is the most important conviction for these offences in the history of the State.
Redmond has been under investigation by CAB since 1999, when he was arrested on his return from the Isle of Man and found to be carrying £300,000 in cash and cheques.
He subsequently made a settlement for £782,000 with the Revenue Commissioners and was convicted on tax offences, for which he was fined £7,500.
He also gave evidence to the tribunal, although this was interrupted by the criminal proceedings. CAB officers were last night said to be "greatly encouraged" by the guilty verdict in the case.
A team of seven CAB gardaí and tax officials attached to the bureau, led by Det Insp Patrick Byrne, has been working exclusively on the Redmond case for 15 months.
To sustain a prosecution in cases involving Mr Dunlop, CAB would have to combine his evidence with financial analyses showing that the flow of funds through suspects' accounts greatly exceeded their earnings during certain periods.
CAB can request from financial institutions a suspect's detailed financial records for long periods. It can do so without the consent or knowledge of the suspect.
Planned amendments to CAB legislation will further strengthen the bureau's ability to investigate corruption.
Under those mooted changes, provision is made for the "seizure and forfeiture of a bribe".
A reference to "criminal activity" in the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996 is also to be replaced by "criminal conduct".
The Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, last night congratulated the Garda officers in charge of the case for their "very successful" investigation.
However, Labour's Mr Eamon Gilmore said last year's interim report from the tribunal had described a number of corrupt payments - yet no prosecution had been taken about notable recipients such as Mr Ray Burke.
Mr Gilmore claimed the Government had "quietly dropped" its plans for a new anti-corruption agency with the power to seize assets.
This proposal should be reactivated, he said.