Flood report accuses Ray Burke of corruption

The interim report of the Flood Tribunal has concluded that former Fianna Fail TD Ray Burke was engaged in corrupt activity while serving as a Government minister in the late 1980s.

The report is littered with references to corruption, particularly in relation to the sale of Mr Burke’s home, the handling of the Century Radio licence and the way construction firm JMSE paid money to the former minister expecting favours in return.

Mr Burke was forced to resign as Minister for Foreign Affairs in 1997 because of the Flood Tribunal’s investigations.

The tribunal chairman, Justice Fergus Flood, is now expected to forward the report to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who will consider criminal proceedings

Reacting to the report, both Labour Party leader Ruairi Quinn and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said the findings are a damning indictment of Mr Burke and the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, who appointed him as Minister for Foreign Affairs in 1997.

Mr Kenny said: “It is a searing indictment of the character and behaviour of Ray Burke as a public representative. It also calls into question the judgement of the Taoiseach in making the appointment of Ray Burke to a senior and sensitive cabinet position when he knew that there were questions to be answered about his behaviour.”

Mr Quinn said the report documents a sordid and disgusting aspect of Irish public life during the 1980s and 1990s.

Labour TD Joan Burton, who sat on Dublin County Council with Mr Burke, said today’s report vindicates those councillors who spoke out about planning corruption and bribery.

She said the Taoiseach must take personal responsibility because he chose to support Mr Burke despite reliable reports of secret payments and wrongdoing.

“Communities in north and west Dublin are still paying the price for the kind of activity that Mr Burke has been mentioned for in the tribunal,” she added.

Michael Smith from An Taisce, who placed the original newspaper adverts in 1995 that led to the establishment of the Flood Tribunal, echoed these remarks and said the actions of certain politicians and property developers in the 1970s and 1980s led to a deterioration in the quality of life for many citizens which is still being felt today.