Tax exile in court over payments to politicians

BUSINESSMAN and tax exile Jim Kennedy is to face 16 charges of making corrupt payments to politicians during the 1990s in return for their votes to rezone lands owned by one of his companies, Jackson Way Properties, at Carrickmines in south Dublin.

Gardaí yesterday objected to bail being granted to the 63-year-old amusement arcade owner due to the seriousness of the charges as well as the fact that he seemed to live at a number of various addresses, including homes in London and Gibraltar.

Mr Kennedy appeared before Dublin District Court after being arrested yesterday afternoon following his discharge from St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin.