‘No political influence’ on sale

NO improper, unethical or political influence was brought to bear when State lands were sold privately to the Roadstone company — whose chairman was financial adviser to then Taoiseach Charles J Haughey, the Moriarty Tribunal heard yesterday.

Sean Fitzgerald, assistant secretary in the Department of Energy when the Glen Ding lands deal went through for £1.25 million (€1.58m) in December 1990, rejected the notion of political influence and defended the way officials handled the sale.

He insisted the Co Wicklow sale was not intended as a favour to Roadstone; the department’s policy was to get more out of them for the public purse. The site was adjacent to Roadstone’s property and officials felt it would be more likely to get planning permission to operate the site than a stand-alone venture, such as Johnston Enterprises, the only other bidder.