Director of Enterprise board received 'bungs', court told

A former managing director of South Cork Enterprise Board received corrupt payments for securing job creation grants for a company, it was claimed on the opening day of his trial today.

The alleged offences were compared to "bungs" received by some Premiership soccer managers.

James Brennan, 59, of 42 Rockgrove, Midleton, County Cork, denied 14 counts of receiving corrupt payments, totalling over €10,000, on various occasions between December 10 1996 and May 20 1999.

A jury of six men and six women was sworn in to hear the case before Judge Con Murphy at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Tom Creed, senior counsel, outlined the case for the prosecution to the jury at the outset of the case.

He said South Cork Enterprise Board Ltd (SCEB) was a public body and the accused was the managing director at the time. One of the board’s functions was to support small businesses who employ less than ten employees. Such companies applied for employment grants to fund extra employees to grow their business.

Mr Creed SC said that in the case before the court it was alleged that Brennan said to the director of one company: “I can more or less guarantee you will get these grants if you give me 10%. I have influence with the board.”

He said the 14 charges related to seven incidents in which it was alleged that the defendant received a total of £4,500 (punts) in corrupt payments.

Mr Creed SC said that a prosecution witness, Pat Collins of Celtic Shades Ltd in Youghal, lampshade manufacturers, would receive a cheque and then 10% would be paid to James Brennan.

Of the 14 charges, Mr Creed SC explained that seven of them related to alleged offences committed in a public body and the other seven were comparable with "bungs" received by soccer managers from players’ agents. The charges are brought under legislation including the Public Bodies Corrupt Practices Act 1889 and the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995.

The case continues tomorrow.