Kennedy wife lashes out at the media
Antoinette Kennedy also criticised the State authorities over their scrutiny of her amusement arcade in Dublin city centre.
Mrs Kennedy told the Flood tribunal yesterday that her husband had been the target of a “slanderous media campaign” over the past three years.
The tribunal is investigating claims by Frank Dunlop that he was given £25,000 by Mr Kennedy in 1992 to bribe councillors to secure rezoning on land he owned in Carrickmines.
Mr Kennedy denies having any involvement in either Paisley Park or Jackson Way - the two offshore companies that are registered owners of the land.
Yesterday, his wife claimed he had been victimised and violated by the media. “He is not a mystery man,” she said.
However, Mr Kennedy has refused to answer a summons to attend the tribunal as a witness. The former auctioneer and publican, who now lives between the Isle of Man and Gibraltar, claims the tribunal has no powers to force him to assist the inquiry.
When asked why he was refusing to give evidence, Mrs Kennedy claimed that her husband felt he would not get a fair hearing.
“None of my family are criminals but they have been made to look sinister,” she said. Mrs Kennedy was interrupted at one point by tribunal chairman Justice Feargus Flood, who told her to answer questions and not “make speeches”.
Ms Kennedy also complained about the behaviour of tax, customs and planning officials who had repeatedly visited her gaming arcade, Amusement City, on Dublin’s Westmoreland Street.
She criticised the Criminal Assets Bureau, which had raided the premises looking for files. “Seven officers searched the whole place for corruption as if it is going to be sitting on top of a pool table,” said Mrs Kennedy.
Although former Fianna Fáil TD Liam Lawlor is alleged to be a business partner of Mr Kennedy, she claimed her husband regarded the politician as “a kiss of death”.
Surprisingly, she said she had never discussed allegations about planning corruption with her husband.
Mrs Kennedy said her husband had always paid his taxes, including one payment of £1.4m in 1983, even though he “didn’t even get a Christmas card from the Revenue”.
Mrs Kennedy stressed that she had not attended the tribunal to act as a spokesperson for her husband. “I am not here to answer questions that are better asked of Mr Kennedy,” she told the tribunal.
Mrs Kennedy said she spends part of her time at a house in Castleknock, although she regards the family’s residence in the Isle of Man as her home.
She also refuted claims about her husband’s involvement in the amusement arcade, claiming he never worked there because of a smoking allergy.
The planning inquiry is investigating claims that Mr Kennedy regularly met Liam Lawlor and the Dublin assistant city and county manager George Redmond at the back of the premises to discuss planning matters.
The tribunal will decide next week if it intends to take further legal action against Mr Kennedy to compel him to co-operate with the inquiry.
