|
The Institute for Ethics and Economic
Policy (IEEP) |
|
||
|
Ex-UUP man denies
corruption. Two men
including a former electoral officer have denied conning thousands of pounds
out of the Northern Ireland Electoral Office. Alastair Pattersonand Edmund
Wiltshire has denied the18 corruption charges. Patterson, a former Ulster
Unionist Party chief executive, have also denied charges of theft, forgery
and false accounting. In the indictment, it is alleged that Wiltshire
initially bribed Patterson with £30 in cash and a bottle of vodka for the
contract for the 1987 general election. (BBC news, Former EU
commissioner and Cabinet minister denies using bogus account to hide secret
payment. A former European Union commissioner and Irish Cabinet
minister testified that he doesn't know how 50,000 Irish pounds (US$80,000)
he received in a secret donation ended up in a bogus offshore account.
Padraig Flynn told a judicial probe into corruption in
GARDA CORRUPTION PROBE SITS IN PRIVATE. The Morris tribunal into garda
corruption was continuing to hear evidence behind close doors in
Corruption investigations underway in CEB. Two separate investigations are underway into allegations of corruption at an Enterprise Board in the south of the country. The investigations are being conducted by the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation and by the Enterprise Board, after it was alleged that a senior executive of the board demanded and received a percentage of a grant, which was being awarded by the board to a small business in the area. The executive has not been suspended, but is on special leave with pay. (RTE Interactive News, February 24, 2003 summary by Sherldine Tomlinson).
WHITE COLLAR FRAUD COST E34M IN 2002 A new reports published by accountants KPMG found that white collar fraud cost Irish business E34m including a E15m. duty evasion penalty levied against Robert Tibbs who was detained after he attempted to smuggle 70 m. cigarettes into the country last year, while the figure recorded in 2001 was just E6m., noting that the increases in the number of cases correspond to the deterioration in the economy. However, the statistics do not include monies or assets seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau. (Online.ie, 21 Feb, 2003, summary by Hanh Vu).
Five people arrested in corruption prevention investigation . It was reported that five people
have been arrested in Dublin as part of an ongoing investigation into the
prevention of corruption. A 64-year-old civil servant is among those who have
been detained. Two male and two female Chinese nationals were arrested in
follow up searches in the Dublin area. It is understood that they were
detained after irregularities in registering nationals emerged.(Irish Examiner, January 16, 2003, summary
by Sherldine Tomlinson). Donegal, OFFICERS RELEASED IN CORRUPTION PROBE. Three police officers were arrested, investigated and released in the state without charges in an ongoing anti-corruption investigation in the Republic of Ireland. The officers, including a sergeant, were investigated for making false claims and wasting gardai time. One of the allegations is that they divided up IRA arms finds, reburied them and faked discoveries in order to improve their chances for a promotion. The investigation is being conducted by the Carty Team, which was set up by the Irish Government to investigate such claims of corruption and misconduct against some gardai. (Source: BBC News, 11 Jan 2003; Summary by Veena Jagannath). Dunlop describes culture of corruption . Former Government press
secretary Frank Dunlop has told the Flood Tribunal that certain councillors
in Dublin would only sign rezoning motions if they were paid for it. Mr
Dunlop sparked the tribunal’s current phase of investigations when he said
two years ago that he bribed several councillors for their votes on rezoning
motions relating to land in Carrickmines in south Co Dublin. In his evidence
to the tribunal, he said that when he pushed for a motion to have land in
Quarryvale in west Dublin rezoned, Councillor Sean Kilbride told him that it
would cost him money. Mr Dunlop also said former Fianna Fail TD Liam Lawlor
recommended him to certain property developers who were seeking to have lands
rezoned for development. (Irish Examiner, December 13, 2002 summary
by Sherldine Tomlinson). Justice Minister urges media to reveal source of corruption claims. Justice Minister Michael McDowell has called on the media to reveal the source of allegations that a serving cabinet minister received a corrupt payment of 80,000 between 1989 and 1992. Mr McDowell accused the media of engaging in a “feeding frenzy” over the claims, which he said nobody seems able to confirm. The PD minister said if anyone has information about the alleged payment, they should pass it on to the Gardai. He also described former Fianna Fail TD Ray Burke as a disgrace, but rejected suggestions that the Progressive Democrats should consider withdrawing from coalition with Fianna Fail because of Mr Burke’s actions. (Irish Examiner, October 3, 2002, summary by Sherldine Tomlinson).
TWO HELD
OVER FRAUD RACKET. Police is investigating into an alleged multi-million
pound fraud ring centered on Northern Ireland's construction industry. Up to
20 Northern Ireland companies are under investigation and the scandal is said
to have cost the Exchequer £10m, in the form of criminal misuse of
construction industry tax certificates. Four people were arrested, while
documents and computer records were seized. Security Minister Jane Kennedy,
who is the chair of Northern Ireland's Organised Crime Task Force, praised
the operation for its professionalism.
(BBC News, May 21, 2002, summary by Pavlidis George). GUARDA CORRUPTION MUST BE EXPOSED SAYS POLITICAL LEADER Brendan Howlin, Labour Party Deputy Leader, believes there is a pressing need for an independent investigating body to tackle Garda corruption in County Donegal. An Ombudsman to investigate allegations contained in the Carthy Report, yet to be published, has been proposed by the Labour Party, but the only action in response to the Report to date has been to transfer some Gardai members out of the County. (UTV, June 6, 2001, summary by Marg Reynolds).
20-YEAR SENTENCE URGED ON CORRUPT POLITICIANS Alan Shatter. Fine Gael justice spokesman, has called for cross party support for his amendment to the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill 2000 which would increase the prison sentence to twenty years for corrupt politicians and office holders. Charles Haughey, three times former Prime Minister and ex-Fianna Fail leader, allegedly received IR 8.6 million Pds. Michael Lowry, former Fine Gael minister, is also being investigated in the case. Liam Lawlor, sitting MP, received a one-week prison sentence for failure to fully disclose his financial records. Justice Minister John O’Donoghue believes a sentence of seven to ten years is sufficient. (Electronic Telegraph, May 30, 2001, summary by Marg Reynolds).
INTERNAL AUDIT REVEALS CORRUPT LOCAL AFRICAN OFFICIALS EMBEZZLED IRISH AID FUNDS Liz O’Donnell, Junior Foreign Affairs Minister, stated all Irish aid went to the poorest of the poor and that John O’Shea’s rally against corrupt African civil servants was sweeping and unfair. This occurred just ahead of a Ministry internal audit which revealed tens of thousands of Pds. has been embezzled from funds destined for the Kilosa area of Tanzania. Ronan Corvin, Irish Ambassador in Dar es Salaam, has complained of fund misdirection by the Kilosa District Council and also the systematic overpricing, theft, and conspiracy by Council officials. (Sunday Independent, May 20, 2001, summary by Marg Reynolds).
Wealthy Irish
Targeted in Taxman Trawl. Investigators unravel a massive tax-evasion
scheme involving secret offshore bank accounts. It is believed that at
least Irl60m (l47m) and possibly hundreds of millions in tax and penalties is
outstanding. It was revealed that accountant, Charles Haughey working
for the former Irish Prime Minister and Fianna Fail leader, used a Cayman
Island subsidiary of the Ansbacher bank to shield him from tax on
millions of pounds of secret payments. Mr. Haughey, now 74 is faced
with the possibility of a Irl10m bill for back tax. Mr. Haughey was alleged
to have collected more than Irl 8.5m from wealthy businessmen between 1979
and 1991. Ben Dunne, the supermarket heir, told the tribunal that he
gave Mr. Haughey more than Irl1.3m. The tax-evasion system described by
the judge as 'very ingenious" came to light during the
tribunal. The inquiry now includes about 500 individuals, trusts
and trust companies. About 36 people have already paid Irl7.6m in all
to the Revenue Commissions in the hope of not facing prosecution. (http://www.independent.co.uk, May 6,2001, summary by B. Gray). NEW EXTRADITION LEGISLATION WILL END SANCTUARIES FOR THE CORRUPT. Mr. O’Donoghue, Minister for Justice, has introduced proposed legislation for anti-crime and anti-corruption measures known as the Extradition European Union Convention Bill 2001. The provisions will apply to extradition of government officials or individuals for fiscal or revenue offenses that have taken place. Tax evaders or organized crime figures, for example, will be extradited to the country where the crime was committed and new, European-wide procedures will expedite the process. (Irish Times, Mar. 28, 2001, summary by Marg Reynolds).
ADVERTISING FOR THOSE ‘FED UP WITH POLITICAL CORRUPTION’. Gerard McHugh, Maynooth, anti-corruption campaigner, has appealed to individuals and corporate bodies to make public servants and politicians more accountable. His dissatisfaction with state agencies activity level in white-collar crime, case numbers brought forward, or power to bring prosecutions has caused his appeal to secure convictions of wrongdoers. (Irish Times, Mar. 27, 2001, summary by Marg Reynolds).
Dublin, CORRUPTION TRIBUNAL GIVEN BURNED PAPERS. Liam
Lawlor, an Irish politician, is under investigation
for corruption allegations surrounding planning
procedures in the Dublin area. The Irish Flood Tribunal is currently
trying to discover the origins of payments of IR£2.6 million, out
of
IR£4.5 million that Lawlor held in 18 separate bank accounts during the
last
17 years. Lawlor, who was imposed a seven-day sentence for failing to
co-operate
with the Tribunal, finds himself in a difficult position: yesterday,
the remains of burned papers (credit card statements etc) were found
outside his home and they were handed over to the tribunal (Source:
Irish
Times, January 24, 2001, summary by Pavlidis George). GOVERNMENT
CRITICISED OVER POLITICAL CORRUPTION
John Bruton, Fine Gael leader, has accused senior political levels in
government of delaying tactics to evade accountability once individuals are
involved, after the Public Accounts Committee has exposed systematic tax
evasion and had established the tribunals.
(Irish Times, Jan. 2, 2001, summary by Marg Reynolds). SPENDING MUST BE ``PUBLIC``.
Members of the Public Accounts and Audit Committees called for much greater
powers for the Comptroller and Auditor General, John Dowdall. Currently,
Dowdall does not have automatic access to accounts of companies involved in
sub-contracting work or to accounts of community groups that have received
public money. Independent of the Executive, Dowdall has the duty to
scrutinize government spending on behalf of the Assembly. MLAs contend that
the Government Resources and Account Bill, which has passed its second stage,
should have included the issue of greater powers of access. However,
according to Finance Minister Mark Durkan, this was not the purpose of the
bill, which was to update and improve the government departments' accounting
systems. Durkan added though that he would wait for the outcome of a review
by the Public Accounts Committee at Westminster regarding the issue of
access. (Belfast Letter (YellowBrix), 8 November 2000, summary by Debbie Uy). LIBEL DAMAGES AWARD OVERTURNED. A High Court jury had
decided that millionaire
businessman Mr. Denis O'Brien (41), founder of Esat Telecom, was entitled
to an award of £250,000 libel damages over articles published in the
Irish Mirror. These articles, of June 19th 1998, were accusing Mr.
O'Brien
of having paid £30,000 as a bribe to a former Fianna Fáil minister
Mr
Ray Burke for getting a radio license. Mirror Group Newspapers Ltd, its
editor-in-chief,
Mr Piers Morgan, and two journalists Mr Karl Brophy and Mr Neil
Leslie appealed against the size of the award. The Supreme Court overturned
the decision and ordered a retrial on the amount of damages only.
According
to the Chief Justice, the undoubtedly defamatory libel could not be
regarded as among the grossest ones. The award, he said, is disproportionately
high and excessive and should be set aside. (Source: The Irish
Times, October 26, 2000, summary by Pavlidis George). Former Prime
minister Charlie Haughey owes more than $1.2 million in taxes on gifts
received while in office from a supermarket executive. (NYT, Apr. 4, 2K,p.
A8). Frank Dunlop, a
lobbyist, allegedly bribed $135,000 to 15 politicians under the guise of
campaign contributions to win votes for rezoning of a shopping center. (NYT,
Apr. 22, 2K, p.A6). IRELAND: FORMER DUBLIN LORD MAYOR SAYS HE
WAS SMEARED IN FRAUD CASE. The former Lord Mayor of Dublin, Michael Keating,
has spoken publicly for the first time about allegations made against him in
a court case in England arising from a multi-million pound tax fraud. Mr
Keating, a former deputy leader of the Progressive Democrats, said that he
had been massively smeared by the claims made by Limerickman Daniel
O´Connell, who was convicted at Middlesex Crown Court yesterday for his part
in a £20m tax fraud. Mr Keating told RTÉ News that he would not be afraid to
travel to England to help police and customs with their investigations. Mr
Keating said that he had not been allowed into the court to rebut the
allegations; he had not been allowed to stand up for himself and he had not
been permitted to see a transcript of the court proceedings. No representative
of the British Customs or the British police had been in touch with him. He
said he would be happy to assist them. He admitted he had a business
relationship with Daniel O´Connell but said that finished two years before
this incident. He also said that he bought a car off him in the normal
fashion but he denied that Daniel O´Connell had put millions of pounds
through his bank accounts in Dublin. The jury at Middlesex Crown Court found
Daniel O´Connell, aged 47, of Catherine Street, Limerick, guilty of five
counts of tax evasion between April 1996 and February last year. The case was
described by the judge as one of the greatest tax frauds ever prosecuted.
(RTE News, August 10, 2000). Old URL: http://www.rte.ie/news/2000/0810/fraud.html The Index of Economic Freedom (by Driscoll-Holmes-Kirkpatrick) for 2001 places Ireland in the “Free” category with a rank of 3 (Ranks range from 1 for Hong Kong to 155 for North Korea, Wall Street Journal, Nov. 1, 2000). H. D. Vinod’s trimmed correlation analysis indicates that countries free from economic regulation are less corrupt. After allowing for some exceptions by 20% trimming, the correlation is near 0.9. |
|
||
|
Design:
Theo den Brinker |
Copyright:
Hrishikesh D. Vinod 2000 |
Last
Updated: |
|
