DPP drops bung charges

A PUBLIC servant accused of taking bung payments so that he might favourably review grant applications has had all charges against him dropped.

James Brennan, 59, from Rockgrove, Midleton, Co Cork, had been charged with abusing his position as managing director of the South Cork Enterprise Board (SCEB).

However, yesterday the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions entered a nolle prosequi before Cork Circuit Criminal Court — meaning it no longer intended to pursue a case against him.

Judge Patrick Moran accepted the DPP’s position and ruled all personal items belonging to Mr Brennan, which were confiscated as evidence, be returned to him immediately.

Mr Brennan had twice stood trial in relation to 14 counts of corruption and breach of the ethics demanded of those in public office. It had been alleged that between December 10, 1996, and May 20, 1999, he received payments worth £4,500 as part of a 10% fee he sought in exchange for maximising job creation grants available to start-up companies.

Mr Brennan has always denied receiving a corrupt payment and told a jury in February that all grant funding sanctioned by SCEB during his tenure could be accounted for.

Mr Brennan was not available yesterday for comment.

On February 29 a jury of six men and six women failed to reach a verdict despite 12 hours of discussions which followed a 13-day trial.

When the jury failed to reach a decision the DPP was given six weeks to decide if it would pursue the case again.