Docklands boss ‘regrets’ Glass Bottle deal

Former Dublin Docklands Development Authority chairman Lar Bradshaw has said that the taxpayer did not lose any money in the controversial purchase of the Irish Glass Bottle site in Ringsend seven years ago, but has expressed regret that the authority went through with the deal.

Addressing the Public Accounts Committee yesterday, Mr Bradshaw — who was also a non-executive director of Anglo Irish Bank, one of the main lenders for the purchase — said he had no conflict of interest and nothing to gain on a personal level from the transaction.

He said that, “contrary to popular belief”, neither the State nor the taxpayer lost any money from the deal, but added that the State could have made “considerably” more money than its reported €85m net profit.