Former CAB boss advises island paradise on fighting corruption

THE role played by former Criminal Assets Bureau boss Barry Galvin in reforming the criminal justice system of an Indian Ocean island is to feature in an RTÉ documentary.

For the past two years, Mr Galvin has been engaged in a private consultancy capacity to the government of the Republic of Seychelles in helping to combat corruption and money laundering.

The two-part series, entitled Hostile Environment, “explores the controversial world of the modern day Irish private security contractor”, according to RTÉ.

It provides a fascinating insight into the separate roles of Mr Galvin and a second Co Cork man, ex-soldier Paul Butler, who runs a private security firm operating globally.

The second part of the series focuses on Mr Galvin, a former state solicitor for Cork and a legal specialist in corporate, banking and taxation affairs. He was involved from the outset in the creation of CAB and was the bureau’s first legal officer waging war on drug barons and corruption in the state.

The programme, two years in the making, zooms in on Mr Galvin’s role in tackling corruption and money laundering in the tiny offshore financial centre of Seychelles, an island paradise several hundred kilometres off the east coast of Africa.

Meanwhile, episode one of Hostile Environment follows ex-Irish Ranger Paul Butler from Youghal, who now runs a successful security business in the south of France.

The private security industry remains one of the fastest growing in the world, and generates over tens of billions of dollars annually.

According to the programme maker, Getgofilms, private security is a global industry but one that is dominated by Irish operators.

Presenter Liam Cunningham’s journey begins in Cannes in February last, as he travels to meet Mr Butler.

He first encounters him on the firing range as he puts his team through their paces. Mr Butler provides protection to high net worth clients and celebrities who spend their summers holidaying in the exclusive French resort.

The programme looks at Mr Butler’s background and his formative years in Youghal and his path to becoming part of one of the most respected military elite forces in the world.

From the luxury of Cannes, the former soldier’s next assignment will take him to Liberia in west Africa in connection with a government-approved diamond license.

Mr Butler’s job is to provide verification of the product, protection to clients on the ground and to oversee the safe transportation of the purchased gems out of the hostile environment.

With all diamond transactions conducted in cash, the programme makers note, it is a business with high risks for high returns.

The series is produced by Tony Deegan, a well-established independent film-maker.