The court heard that Breifne O’Brien’s deceptions first began to come to light when an allegation was made during civil proceedings in 2008 and Mr Justice Peter Kelly referred the matter to the Garda fraud squad.

GARDA Commissioner Noel Conroy headed the force’s Crime and Security branch at a time when it was negligent in failing to ask questions about a trip to the United States by two central figures investigated by the Morris Tribunal.

JUST how high can house prices go? Try about €4 million for size.