Cosgrave corruption case 'an abuse of process', court told

Lawyers for former Fine Gael politician Liam Cosgrave have today claimed that his prosecution on corruption charges is an abuse of process.

The ex-TD and Senator of Merrion Park, Blackrock, Co Dublin is in the Supreme Court today, attempting to stop his trial on five charges of receiving corrupt payments in 1992 and 1997 in relation to land rezoning in Carrickmines.

Liam Cosgrave was prosecuted in 2005 and carried out community service for failing to declare a political donation from lobbyist Frank Dunlop.

Now the former TD is trying to stop his trial on more serious corruption charges.

His lawyers say the case is an abuse of process because the new charges arise from interviews between Frank Dunlop and gardaí prior to the 2005 prosecution.

They say his statements should have been disclosed to Mr Cosgrave at the time but they were not and, as a result, he had a legitimate belief that he would face no further charges in the future.

This appeal follows a refusal by the High Court to stop the trial of the former Fine Gael politician.