Gardaí investigate claim planning report doctored in An Bord Pleanála 

According to An Bord Pleanála's website, one protected disclosure was submitted in 2022.

Gardaí are investigating allegations that a planning report was doctored in An Bord Pleanála, without the consent of the author, to ensure the development had a much greater chance of being given the green light.

An inspector submitted a planning report on the development, but was then asked to make adjustments which would reflect on the proposed development in a more positive light.

They refused to make the changes as to do so, in the inspector’s opinion, would not be in keeping with the evidence gathered.

Later, the inspector became aware that the adjustments originally requested had been made by somebody else for the final report.

The inspector was extremely distressed and, ultimately, made a protected disclosure.

The content of the disclosure was such that it was deemed appropriate to refer to the gardaí. The Irish Examiner understands that this referral was made in the second half of 2022.

A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána said it is precluded from commenting on anything that may or may not be subject to a protected disclosure.

Separately, An Garda Síochána continues to assess certain information brought to our attention by a planning authority in relation to a planning matter

According to the board’s website, one protected disclosure was submitted in 2022.

“A process arising from receipt of this disclosure is ongoing,” the report for the year states. The Irish Examiner understands that this “process” is a Garda investigation.

Meanwhile, a report commissioned to a senior counsel into various malpractices at An Bord Pleanála is due to be presented to the chair of the board this coming Friday.

Lorna Lynch SC was asked by interim chair Oonagh Buckley to compile the report in January 2023.

This followed a similar report compiled internally in An Bord Pleanála, which examined up to 300 cases where there may have been conflicts of interest or possible bias on the part of certain employees of the board or board members.

In November 2022, the Irish Examiner revealed the details of this internal report — which was highly critical of certain practices in the organization.

Despite its thoroughness, the board was not satisfied with the outcome and Ms Lynch was commissioned to do an external report.

She sent out elements of the draft report to various individuals last month, giving them the opportunity to comment on any adverse findings pertaining to them.

An Bord Pleanála was beset by a range of controversies in 2022, which was sparked by allegations that the deputy chair of the board, Paul Hyde, had a conflict of interest in relation to decision he made about a proposed development in Blackpool, Cork city.

Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien commissioned senior counsel Remy Farrell to examine the allegations, but a further raft of claims over the following months thrust the board deeper into controversy.

Mr Hyde resigned his position in July 2022, and was subsequently convicted in Cork District Court of failing to declare properties in which he had an interest.

The chair of An Bord Pleanála, Peter Mullan, is due to receive the Lynch report this coming Friday.

He received a two-month prison sentence, but this was suspended on appeal with the addition of a €6,000 fine.

The chair of the board at the time, Dave Walsh, against whom there were no allegations of personal impropriety, took early retirement a week after the Irish Examiner published details of the internal report.

The current chairperson, Peter Mullan, was appointed in January 2024. He is scheduled to receive the Lynch report on Friday, and will have to decide whether or not to publish it.

Questions sent to An Bord Pleanála about the report had not received a reply at the time of going to press.