‘Happy days’ email after DDDA €212m site deal

A MEMBER of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority sent an email declaring “happy days” and “our pension is now secured” after the DDDA board sanctioned the authority becoming involved in the purchase of the Irish Glass Bottle site at Ringsend, later bought for €412 million, the Commercial Court has heard.

The email, sent on November 1, 2006, by DDDA member Thomas Mulligan, was part of a chain of emails circulated to the directors of the authority by the personal assistant to former DDDA CEO Paul Maloney, developer Bernard McNamara said.

It stated: “Happy days. Congratulations to Paul and the team. Our pension is now secured,” Mr McNamara said. The DDDA, having overseen much of the development of the docklands, “had of course perpetuated itself by entering this transaction”, Mr McNamara added.