The High Court has today dismissed applications by ex-FG TD Liam Cosgrove and businessman Jim Kennedy aimed at stopping their trials in connection with alleged corrupt payments in relation to rezoning of lands in Dublin.

The State has failed to give reasons why there was such a lengthy delay before charges were brought against businessman Jim Kennedy, the High Court has heard.

Retired Fine Gael politician Liam Cosgrave was shocked to learn he was to be charged with receiving alleged corrupt payments for rezoning of lands in Carrickmines in Dublin in the 1990s, the High Court heard today.

The High Court has today made an order allowing limited discovery of documents sought by businessman Jim Kennedy for his forthcoming judicial review proceedings aimed at preventing his criminal trial for alleged corrupt payments.

The High Court has today granted permission to former Fine Gael politician Liam Cosgrave and businessman Jim Kennedy to bring a legal challenge aimed at stopping their trials in connection with alleged corrupt payments in relation to rezoning of lands in Carrickmines in Dublin in the 1990s.

A FORMER Fianna Fáil councillor charged with corruption in relation to land rezoning has died.

A former Fianna Fáil councillor accused of accepting money to vote for rezoning of lands in Carrickmines in Dublin in the 1990s was today remanded on continuing bail in his absence due to poor health.

A former councillor charged with accepting money to vote for rezoning of lands in Carrickmines in Dublin in the 1990's, was remanded on bail in his absence today after a court heard he is in hospital.

Businessman Jim Kennedy, who is accused of numerous counts of corrupt payments to politicians, was served with a book of evidence today and sent forward for trial before a judge and jury.

BUSINESSMAN Jim Kennedy, who was last week charged with numerous counts of corrupt payments to politicians, was remanded on continuing bail when he appeared at Cloverhill District Court.

FORMER Fine Gael TD Liam Cosgrave Jnr was arrested and brought before court charged with receiving illegal payments linked to the controversial Carrickmines development.

A former Fine Gael politician appeared at the Dublin District Court this afternoon to face charges of taking corrupt payments in relation to rezoning of lands in Carrickmines in Dublin in the 1990's.

Businessman Jim Kennedy, who is charged with making corrupt payments to politicians, has taken up bail.

FOUR former Fianna Fáil councillors and businessman Jim Kennedy are to face a criminal trial on charges of planning corruption related to the rezoning of lands in Carrickmines, Co Dublin, during the 1990s.

BUSINESSMAN and tax exile Jim Kennedy is to face 16 charges of making corrupt payments to politicians during the 1990s in return for their votes to rezone lands owned by one of his companies, Jackson Way Properties, at Carrickmines in south Dublin.

GARDAÍ were waiting to resume questioning of businessman Jim Kennedy last night after he was taken to hospital early yesterday morning, hours after being arrested by detectives from the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB).

Businessman Jim Kennedy was taken to hospital today after being arrested for questioning about bribery and corruption allegations.

FORMER political lobbyist Frank Dunlop could soon be facing a criminal prosecution on charges of corruption as a result of a detailed investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau.

THE Mahon Tribunal has become one of the great fault lines of our society: you either support it or regard it as a waste of time and money.

The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is preventing two controversial businessmen from selling a multi-million-euro section of land in south Co Dublin.

A MYSTERIOUS property firm based in Britain is continuing its fight to obtain E13 million in compensation from Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, despite being the subject of serious allegations of corruption at the Planning Tribunal over the past year.

FORMER Fianna Fáil TD Liam Lawlor has accused Labour leader Pat Rabbitte of abusing Dáil privilege to make false accusations against him.

A BRITISH company under investigation by the Planning Tribunal has been awarded just under €13 million for having its land compulsorily acquired for the final leg of the M50 motorway in south Dublin.

ONE of the beneficial owners of lands at the centre of planning corruption allegations yesterday insisted he never played any role in attempts to bribe councillors.

THE Planning Tribunal has heard that the two beneficial owners of a company under investigation for alleged planning corruption were “at loggerheads” in recent weeks over their level of co-operation with the inquiry.

A BRITISH company at the centre of allegations of planning corruption in Dublin has cleared the final obstacle for receipt of a potential €47m payout from Irish taxpayers.

FIANNA FÁIL councillor Tony Fox has admitted that he failed to notify a party inquiry into payments to politicians about a large donation from a property company.

FORMER Fine Gael TD Liam Cosgrave has denied conspiring with Frank Dunlop to mislead the Flood Tribunal by claiming any bribes he received from the political lobbyist were legitimate political donations.

POLITICIANS accused of planning corruption by political lobbyist Frank Dunlop are finally set to make their first appearance at the Flood Tribunal this week.

A RETIRED council official has complained to the Flood Tribunal that confidential information relating to the planning inquiry had found its way into the media.

A DISSOLVED British-based property company accused of planning corruption at the Flood Tribunal has applied to be reinstated in order to receive a potential €47m payout from the Irish authorities.

LAWYERS for Liam Cosgrave have accused the Flood Tribunal of sending them on “a bum steer” by withholding important documentation from the former Fine Gael TD.

FRANTIC efforts were being made last night to stop a haemorrhage of taxpayers’ money after the completion of the country’s biggest road project was stonewalled by the Supreme Court.

By Seán McCárthaigh

CONSERVATIONISTS battling to save Carrickmines Castle are due back in court today to appeal a ruling allowing the removal of an ancient wall surrounding the medieval ruins.

FIANNA FÁIL has been sharply criticised by Frank Dunlop for suggesting the party did not attempt to instruct its members on Dublin Co Council how to vote on planning issues during the late 1980s and 1990s.

THE political lobbyist Frank Dunlop has told the Flood Tribunal that he believed Fianna Fáil councillor Tony Fox paid party colleagues to support rezoning motions.

THE Flood Tribunal is expected to decide this week on what legal action, if any, it intends to take against the tax exile businessman, Jim Kennedy over his refusal to appear at the inquiry as a witness.

A PROPERTY company, which is seeking 47m in compensation from Irish taxpayers, may not be entitled to a single cent after it was dissolved yesterday.

THE Flood Tribunal has declared that the British company, Jackson Way Properties, is now obstructing the progress of the inquiry into alleged planning corruption.

A CONTROVERSIAL tax exile under investigation by the Flood Tribunal is expected to snub the inquiry by failing to turn up to give evidence at Dublin Castle today.

THE Flood Tribunal has not ruled out the possibility that it could examine the motivation of planning officials as part of its investigation into alleged corruption among councillors.

AN offshore company under investigation by the Flood Tribunal accused Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Council in 1998 of misleading its own councillors about a rezoning motion on lands it owned.

ATTEMPTS by landowners to get property rezoned by Dublin Co Council were rarely successful without the assistance of local politicians, the Flood Tribunal heard yesterday.