Some corruption findings against Burke overturned

The €159m Mahon Tribunal has been forced to overturn a series of corruption findings against former Fianna Fáil minister Ray Burke and key businessmen in a damaging blow to the investigation.

The tribunal confirmed the development involving Mr Burke and 11 businessmen central to its inquiries into highly controversial land deals, after long-running legal appeals.

In an unexpected statement released last night, the tribunal said following on from the previous removal of findings against the late Dublin city manager George Redmond and other resolved appeals by developer Owen O’Callaghan and builders Joseph Murphy Structural Engineering, it has deleted a number of prior conclusions.

The tribunal confirmed “all adverse findings” have been removed in relation to businessmen Oliver Conlon, Jack Foley, Oliver Barry, James Stafford, John Mulhern, Joseph Murphy junior and senior, Frank Reynolds, Thomas Bailey, Michael Bailey and Caroline Bailey.

The individuals include horsetrainer and former Century Radio executive Mr Mulhern; Joseph Murphy Structural Engineering executives; Mr Murphy senior and junior, and Mr Reynolds; and the Bailey developers.

The tribunal statement said some adverse findings remain against former Fianna Fáil minister Ray Burke; builder Tom Brennan; developer Joseph McGowan; auctioneer John Finnegan; accountants Roger Copsey and Tim O’Keeffe; and auditor John Bates.

However crucially, the second report’s Gogarty module findings — which involve Mr Burke’s relationship with Joseph Murphy Structural Engineering, including a £30,000 June 1989 donation — have been removed from the record of the former Fianna Fáil minister.

All individuals affected had serious adverse findings made against them in the reports, which relate to Mr Burke and the late George Redmond. In December 2014, the tribunal withdrew its findings against Mr Redmond after a 10-year legal battle.

While inquiry judge Alan Mahon has previously staunchly defended the corruption investigation’s work, the developments will lead to fresh cost questions.