Aer Rianta suspected corruption in rezoning deals

AER Rianta suspected corruption was behind some Dublin County Council rezoning decisions in the 1990s, former general manager Brian Byrne told the Mahon Planning Tribunal yesterday.

Rumours were circulating, he said, after councillors Joe Higgins (Ind) and Bernie Malone (Lab) indicated “there was something untoward going on in relation to other councillors”.

Pressed by tribunal lawyer Patricia Dillon SC as to what he understood that to mean, Mr Byrne replied: “I think one expression was there were leeches on the body of the country ... Some sort of corruption, to be honest with you.”

Mr Byrne said he could not explain why councillors gave widespread support for rezoning 24 acres of landlocked agricultural land near Dublin Airport, in 1993.

Finance Minister Brian Cowen — as Minister for Transport — gave road access through department lands near the airport.

This allowed the Cargobridge consortium operate an airfreight warehousing business, but, according to Mr Byrne, diminished the value of the State holding.

Mr Byrne said Aer Rianta were directed by the minister and had “no choice” but to agree. Ciaran Haughey’s involvement in Cargobridge was hidden from Aer Rianta, he added.

“We did look for information and didn’t get it,” according to Mr Byrne.

The airport authority was aware Cargobridge had political connections, through Michael McGuinness’s brother — Kilkenny TD John McGuinness.

Mr Byrne vaguely recalled Ciaran Haughey dismissing rumours of him being a part-owner of Cargobridge as a joke.

Mr Byrne said he learned of Celtic Helicopters’ and Mr Haughey’s involvement in Cargobridge two weeks ago, when it emerged at the Mahon Tribunal.

“There was a lot of speculation ... but we never got to the bottom of it.”