Hitman plot may have been bid to halt fraud probe

An ex-politician arrested for allegedly trying to hire a hitman to kill a garda, a Revenue official, and an accountant, may have been trying to prevent a probe into allegations that he had defrauded a number of people living in Cork.

An investigation into the fraud allegations got under way in 2011 and involved members of the Garda Fraud Squad, as well as the Revenue Commissioners.

The irregularities are said to have related to a number of financial transactions carried out by the man between 2005 and 2008.