Corrupt payment trial set for July

The trial of a multimillionaire property developer accused of making corrupt payments to a politician is due to go ahead in July.

Michael Ryan, aged 60, of The Sweepstakes, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, denies charges of giving a total of €80,000 in corrupt payments to then Fine Gael councillor Fred Forsey Jr in 2006.

The payments are alleged to have been made as a reward or inducement for Mr Forsey to use his position as a Dungarvan town councillor to help secure the rezoning of a piece of land outside the Co Waterford town.

Mr Ryan wanted the 32-hectare parcel of land rezoned from agricultural use to industrial and residential use.

The defendant’s solicitor, Robert Eager, told Waterford Circuit Court yesterday that his client originally went on trial in relation to the allegations in January.

However, after some days, the trial collapsed when an issue arose in the case.

The matter has been in the circuit court list since 2010, he said.

Judge Keenan Johnson adjourned the case until Jul 2, for hearing.

It is expected to take five or six days to complete.