Land speculators ‘joined by Ahern at party fundraiser’

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern was “very much in evidence” at a Fianna Fáil fundraiser attended by land speculators whose north Dublin property rezoning is being probed by the Mahon Planning Tribunal, it emerged yesterday.

Auctioneer Sean Dillon described being a guest of consortium principal John Butler at Dublin’s Royal Hospital Kilmainham in the early 1990s.

Seated at the table were the two other consortium members, Niall Kenny and Tom Williams, who shared ownership of the 18-acre Cloghran site near Dublin Airport.

Mr Dillon, who was hired by the consortium behind the rezoning of the Cloghran lands, told the tribunal he would be aware Mr Butler was “very much a Fianna Fáil supporter”.

He could not say if the fundraiser was in aid of Mr Ahern’s O’Donovan Rossa Cumann or what year it took place except that he thought it was after the lands were purchased in 1990.

“I do know that Mr Ahern and his able-bodied supporters were very much in evidence on that occasion,” he added.

Tax consultant Anne Corrigan described how the Cloghran consortium attempted to set up a tax avoidance scheme through a Cypriot-registered company called Silverstone Developments Ltd.

She said the consortium wanted to limit their exposure to Capital Gains Tax. At the time the rate in Ireland was 42% — ten times higher than the 4.2% Cypriot rate.

But the consortium decided not to use a non-resident company after the Central Bank raised concerns about the lack of exchange control permission.

Sean Gilbride, a member of Dublin Co Council in 1993, has denied he received a £2,000 bribe to vote for the Cloghran development and two other north Dublin developments. Lobbyist Frank Dunlop, who was hired by the Cloghran consortium, made the allegation.

Mr Gilbride told tribunal lawyer Pat Quinn SC how developer Niall Kenny, whom he knew, called to his home with his brother and asked if he would co-sign the rezoning motion and he agreed.

The tribunal resumes next Tuesday.