Section four of the Transparency International Ireland debate entitled ‘Restoring trust in Ireland Inc’ focused on possible corrupt links between the judiciary and government.
Journalist Justine McCarthy didn’t mince her words.
I think corruption of the law in this country is at the root of most of our problems.
She went on to give just a few examples of how the law ‘operates’ in Ireland including how lawyers regularly lie in court, how legal firms like Arthur Cox become involved in conflicts of interest. For example, advising the Government on NAMA while at the same time advising the banks.
There was some discussion about RTEs habit of caving in to government (legal) pressure on a whole range of issues. Host, Karen Coleman, suggested there should be an investigation into this matter.
Ms. Coleman is right but who could be trusted to conduct such an investigation into the two most powerful information (propaganda) outlets in the country – the judiciary?
Some excellent points made at that conference. Thanks for the links Anthony
listen to Ivan Yates and Claire Byrnes interview this morning with one of the FAS muppets on Newstalk, v. good
I have been looking for an investigation into the succession of irregularities in the manner in which may family law case was dealt with by a clique within the judiciary for some years.
In that time I was granted a meeting with Justice Department civil law reform officials, but Michael Mc Dowell refused to have the matter investigated.
Former T.D. Joe Higgins and the technical group had successive written and oral questions blocked by the Ceann Comhairle on the matter. The former T.D. Dan Boyle, said later in reference to John O’ Donoghue, “that he saw the questions coming”.
On an issue involving members of the Gardai, Dan Boyle said later that there had been a reshuffle at a local Garda station, because of something I said during the course of a radio interview on the subject.
More recently, Enda Kenny T.D. had questions blocked and refused. In a convsation later he said that they meaning the government “were unwilling to provide any information” on the matter.
Part of the issues may be retaliation on the part of a number of judges. One of whom, Brian Mc Mahon and another colleague who resigned from their former positions in the UCC, after my brother, a law lecturer there at that time, was successful in a Supreme Court case against the college.
The details of my case, including all the relevant information and correspondence from politicians etc., can be seen as exhibits on my web site http://www.gerardlinehan.ie
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Gerard Linehan