Ganley used London attacks to stress security

LIBERTAS founder Declan Ganley used the London terrorist attacks of July 2005 to stress the importance of a security conference he was hosting later that year.

However, the then justice minister Michael McDowell, declined an invitation to the conference, held in August 2005, because his officials believed it was “primarily a marketing-led exercise” for Mr Ganley’s company, Rivada Networks.

On July 8, 2005 — the day after the London bombings that killed 56 people — Mr Ganley wrote to those he had invited to the inaugural Forum on Public Safety in Europe and North America.

“Following yesterday’s appalling events in London and the resolve of our democratic society to face down, and defeat the perpetrators of such terror, I wanted to re-emphasise the crucial work to be carried out at the Forum on Public Safety in Europe and North America to be held at the University of Limerick on Wednesday, 3rd of August,” he wrote. “The forum’s recommendations will be submitted to the European and national parliaments and the United States Congress, for their consideration.

“Your role in the forum will be a timely and valuable contribution to bolstering the safety of our citizens…

“I look forward to your participation and important contribution to this challenge in helping further define appropriate and effective responses to the threats our society faces.”

But Department of Justice officials advised Mr McDowell to turn down an invitation to the forum on the basis that it was “primarily a marketing-led exercise” for Rivada, which develops sophisticated communications systems for security and emergency forces. “Rivada is a Galway-based developer and operator of broadband wireless networks focused in the public safety/defence arena,” the advisory note to Mr McDowell explained.

“Although the forum is billed as focusing on a number of issues relating to public safety, policy, implementation and communications, it would appear to be primarily a marketing-led exercise for Rivada.”

However, two other ministers — Defence Minister Willie O’Dea and then european affairs minister Noel Treacy — attended that year’s conference. Mr McDowell subsequently attended the second forum a year later. The correspondence was released to the Irish Examiner under the Freedom of Information Act.

Rivada has contracts worth over €200m with the US military. Elements of the US military establishment were thought to oppose Lisbon on the basis it would enhance Europe’s military capability. However, Mr Ganley has denied his US business interests were a factor in setting up Libertas to campaign against Lisbon.