Kennedy held in connection with planning corruption investigation

A businessman at the centre of alleged planning corruption is being held by gardaí today.

James Kennedy was arrested on the steps of the Four Courts in Dublin this afternoon, minutes after attending a High Court hearing concerning land at Carrickmines which had dominated one of the most controversial parts of the Mahon Tribunal.

The 63-year-old, who has been wanted for questioning by the Criminal Assets Bureau for the last seven years, had been living in Gibraltar.

He is being questioned about alleged bribery offences at Irishtown garda station.

The High Court had earlier heard that the Carrickmines land, owned by Jackson Way Limited, had plummeted in value from €53m to less than €5.3m.