DPP not to act against Mick Wallace

On October 8 2012 I submitted a formal complaint against Mick Wallace TD to Cobh Gardai. The complaint was in response to Wallace’s admission on live radio that he hired a hitman to recover an outstanding debt from a building contracts manager. I heard nothing more on the matter from Cobh Gardai until I contacted … Continue reading “DPP not to act against Mick Wallace”

Is the DPP warning Michael Smith and Village magazine?

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Claire Loftus, has just published her annual report. In the Foreword she issued the following warning to the media. I want to take this opportunity to say something generally about the risks of pre-trial publicity interfering with the right of an accused person to a fair trial. The media and … Continue reading “Is the DPP warning Michael Smith and Village magazine?”

DPPs directive: Some citizens are more equal than others?

What should have been a routine engagement between the police and a citizen over a very minor traffic infringement is, apparently, evolving into a bizarre and disturbing case of state bullying. Clare Daly TD made an illegal right-hand turn and the Gardai are now preparing a file for the DPP to decide whether she should … Continue reading “DPPs directive: Some citizens are more equal than others?”

Perjury law: Only applies to the peasants

Go away and give careful consideration to the manner in which you are giving evidence said the judge to Marie Farrell. And in case there was any doubt whatsoever in Ms. Farrell’s mind the judge added: There are very severe penal sanctions for people who commit perjury. And the judge is right, there are severe … Continue reading “Perjury law: Only applies to the peasants”

Michael Noonan: One of our more distinguished gombeens

One of our more distinguished gombeen politicians, Minister for Finance Michael Noonan, was in typical arrogant mood during an interview on The Week in Politics yesterday. When asked about the possibility of Ireland getting money back by way of European retrospection legislation he replied: I think if we go there naively and put out our … Continue reading “Michael Noonan: One of our more distinguished gombeens”

The safest place in the Cosmos for those suspected of white collar crime is in the welcoming arms of the ODCE

The investigation into the collapse of Anglo Irish Bank has been formally put into cold storage where it will remain until all those involved are dead and/or the whole scandal becomes nothing more than a thesis subject for students of history. With hardly a murmur from the media and complete silence from the body politic … Continue reading “The safest place in the Cosmos for those suspected of white collar crime is in the welcoming arms of the ODCE”

State secrecy: A powerful and extremely destructive weapon

On 31st January last I rang the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) to inquire whether the Bailey brothers case was still ongoing. Over the years I have made many such calls to the ODCE to check on the progress of various cases. My questions were always basic – Was the case still … Continue reading “State secrecy: A powerful and extremely destructive weapon”

The curious case of the anonymous councillor

Gardai are to prepare a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions after arresting and questioning a town councillor in Cork over the alleged fraudulent claiming of expenses for attending a conference earlier this year. Curiously and, to my knowledge, unusually, the individual involved is not named in the report. There was, for example, no … Continue reading “The curious case of the anonymous councillor”

Fr Ted Republic

Letter in today’s Irish Independent and Irish Examiner. Our Fr Ted Republic It is certain that if a Mahon Tribunal-like report were published in any self-respecting, functional democracy there would have been immediate arrests and police investigations. In Ireland the response was predictable. A copy of the report was sent to the DPP, the Revenue … Continue reading “Fr Ted Republic”