Gardaí ready to resume questioning businessman

GARDAÍ were waiting to resume questioning of businessman Jim Kennedy last night after he was taken to hospital early yesterday morning, hours after being arrested by detectives from the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB).

Mr Kennedy was arrested on Tuesday shortly after he arrived back in the country following a seven-year absence.

The developer had returned to give evidence in a High Court case in which CAB is seeking to recover €53 million from property company Jackson Way Properties (JWP) over alleged corrupt enrichment as a result of the sale of 17 acres of farmland at Carrickmines in south Dublin.

Mr Kennedy, a former arcade owner, and solicitor Jim Caldwell are the alleged beneficial owners of JWP.

Mr Kennedy was brought to Irishtown Garda Station after being arrested at 4.15pm and questioned by CAB officers for more than seven hours, when he opted to go to sleep at around midnight.

He complained of chest pains to gardaí on duty in the early hours of the morning and a doctor was alerted. Mr Kennedy was transported to St Vincent’s Hospital at 4am. The 63-year-old underwent tests and has remained under medical supervision. He faces further questioning for up to 16 hours.

Gardaí arrested Mr Kennedy on suspicion of bribery, dating back to alleged offences in 1993.

The CAB criminal investigation is separate to the civil proceedings being taken by CAB.

At those High Court proceedings on Tuesday, Mr Kennedy denied he gave £25,000 to Dunlop to buy councillors’ votes in 1992.

Dunlop was jailed for 18 months after pleading guilty to corruption and was released earlier this year. He is giving evidence in the CAB case in the High Court.