A world divorced from reality

Sometimes, when I witness how things are done in this country, I think to myself: ‘Maybe it’s you Anthony, maybe all this stuff is normal and it’s you that’s living in a world divorced from reality.’

That’s certainly what I was thinking yesterday as I read about the latest developments in the Cllr. Fahy case.

Fahy was convicted last March on seven counts under the Larceny Act and the Theft and Fraud Offences Act, including false accounting and attempting to make a gain by deception. He also, in a ruthless attempt to escape punishment, tried to implicate others in his crimes. This is some of what Judge Raymond Groarke had to say;

“Your bombast, bluster and bluff may well have been seen as such by those who witnessed your performance in the witness box, namely the jury, but all the while you gambled with the reputations of honest men in seeking an escape from the consequences of your delinquency.”

The judge addressed Fahy as an “arrogant, greedy and determined fraudster”, who had “knowingly implicated” Thomas Byrne, “a totally innocent man”; leaving him open to “vilification and ruin” if the truth had not emerged.

Fellow councillors, however, did not agree with the judge’s assessment because in order to ensure he kept his seat on the council they all agreed to pretend that Fahy wasn’t really in jail at all but was merely ‘ill in Dublin’.

The criminal, released from jail pending a retrial, received a hero’s welcome at Galway County Council and promptly made a strident speech in which he lectured everybody about his worries on the increasing crime rate.

Noting that crime had risen in the last few months (while he was in jail) the criminal blustered;

“It is just not good enough that people who are out at the shops or at Mass come home to find their houses ransacked. The people who do this sort of crime need to be caught and punished.”

He continued;

“I am proposing that we write to the Garda Commissioner and the Chief Superintendent demanding that every effort is made to bring these culprits to justice.”

His speech was greeted with enthusiastic applause.

Sometimes, when I witness how things are done in this country, I think to myself: ‘Anthony, if all this stuff is normal, perhaps it actually is better to live in a world divorced from reality’.

(Other posts on this matter: Here, here and here)

Liars all – Except Bertie

Bertie Ahern has already effectively called the former director of NCB, Padraic O’Connor, a liar.

He has also turned on Fianna Fail fundraiser, Des Richardson for his part in preparing a dummy invoice to allegedly ‘hide’ the money given to Ahern by NCB (Irish Independent).

Now, in his increasing desperation, he has also effectively accused former CEO of the National Lottery, John Hynes, of lying.

Ahern, through a spokesperson, claims that the Department of Finance was not asked to approve the National Lottery’s decision to open exploratory talks between the National Lottery and a US-backed casino operator in the early 1990s (Irish Times, sub req’d).

The spokesperson said that the Department of Finance was “merely advised after the event” about the contacts between the State lottery and the casino company.

So, once again, nothing whatsoever to do with ‘innocent Bertie’, he only learned of the matter afterwards.

John Hynes is, however, adamant that he did get approval. “I’m standing over my claim that I did get ministerial approval I worked through the dept at all times, I was well known for that modus operandi.” (Morning Ireland, 3rd item).

Tantalizingly, Hynes added;

“I would have related to the dept on the matter and as I mentioned in the article there was a Mr. Robert White present at some of the meetings and I was well aware the he was well connected to Fianna Fail and I believe connected to deputy Ahern.”

Who is this Mr. White and what was his function at the meetings?

The pity of Eoghan Harris

There was a time when Eoghan Harris was a brilliant, clear thinking, analytical journalist. He was also an impressive strategist as evidenced by the critical part he played in the election of Mary Robinson as the first woman president of Ireland in 1990.

Sadly, for reasons that genuinely puzzle me, he now exists in the same ‘Alice in Wonderland’ world populated by Bertie Ahern and all those who actually believe that he’s an honest politician.

Interviewed on RTEs News at One (2nd item) Harris blasted all and sundry for their part in an evil conspiracy to bring down the greatest Taoiseach in Irish history. Here’s a flavour of his rant.

The evil leader of this conspiracy is the Irish Daily Mail, not just because it’s an organ of the media but its British – attacking a great Irish leader. Morning Ireland, the Irish Independent and the Irish Times are all co-conspirators.

The Mahon Tribunal is deliberately trying to do down this great Irish patriot and is populated by greedy lawyers led by a tax avoiding judge. The whole surreal operation should have been shut down years ago.

The attack on our glorious leader is akin to the McCarthy era in America, the Stalinist era in Russia, led by a lying British based newspaper with a very bad track record in relation to the fascist appeasement before the war. (Feck, where did that come from?)

This campaign is tainting Irish politics, Irish politics is being corrupted by this endless diet of sensation hunting (No, really, he said that).

Cowardly Fianna Fail politicians should take courage and defend the great leader by absolutely refusing to talk to the media. All political parties should now stand up to this sick journalism.

Phew! What passion, what loyalty – what a pity?

Mafia country

Padraic O’Connor, the former director of NCB has stated that he is not and never was a friend of Bertie Ahern’s. In spite of this Ahern is adamant that they were very good friends. In effect, Ahern is calling O’Connor a liar. It’s as if O’Connor said that black is black and Ahern retorted, no; black is white.

This kind of fantasy world speak is common throughout all of Ahern’s evidence to the Tribunal. Only a fool would believe he is telling the truth and only someone from Mars would be in any doubt as to what really happened.

So why is he still the Prime Minister, why isn’t he being questioned by the police, why is it that, as sure as black is black, Ahern will never be brought to account for any of his actions?

Less than a week ago it emerged that the UK Labour Party had received large donations from a businessman using middlemen to pass on the money.

The next day there was a resignation. Three days later an opposition politician asked the police to investigate the matter. To my knowledge this has never happened in Ireland despite years of rampant political and business corruption.

Four days later the UK Electoral Commission also asked the police to investigate. The Irish equivalent, The Standards in Public Office Commission is debarred by law from initiating an investigation until it first receives a formal complaint.

This commission is a joke. The law debarring the commission from acting seems to have had only one function – to assist and protect the corrupt.

The reason Ahern will not be brought to account is because Ireland is a corrupt state. There is no authority in Ireland with the power, will or courage to bring rogue politicians or corrupt businessmen to justice.

This is why corrupt politicians like Haughey and Burke can successfully live out careers of rampant corruption doing untold damage to Ireland and its people.

It’s the reason politicians like Lorcan Allen can go on RTE and arrogantly admit that he doesn’t bother with obeying the law.

He knows with absolute certainty that nobody, no authority in the land can touch him. Allen is merely doing what any ruthless and unprincipled politician will do when he knows that the country he operates in is a corrupt entity. He allows his greed and arrogance full rein despite the massive damage done to society by his actions.

Jim Flavin of DCC possesses the same arrogant confidence that is common to those who know they are untouchable.

Found guilty (2nd item) of insider trading by the highest court in the land, a crime that sees long jail sentences in real democracies, Flavin knows he has nothing to worry about, he knows that there is no authority in the land that will take any serious action against him, he knows that the pathetic attempts by the ODCE to make him accountable are just that – pathetic.

Financial institutions and in particular the banks have robbed millions from consumers over the years. Not a single bank official has ever been questioned by the police. The banks too are supremely confident that they operate in a country where the system is specifically geared to protect their criminal behaviour.

The so called Irish Financial Regulator is a joke, it monotonously issues just one piece of advice to consumers –shop around. You want advice on buying a car, a house, a condom, a politician, the regulator has the answer – shop around.

In the meantime it enthusiastically enforces a secrecy law that forbids any consumer from knowing which financial institution is engaged in criminal activity and which, if any, is honest.

Nobody has even hinted that Ahern should resign or be fired for his behaviour. The only discussion that comes near to any possible consequences is that he might have damaged his chances of landing a job in Europe or that the controversy might damage his legacy – that’s it.

A Prime Minister who, when he was Minister for Finance, accepted very large amounts of cash from ‘friends and businessmen’ who insults the intelligence of all thinking Irish citizens with his ‘Alice in Wonderland’ explanations is not expected to resign, not expected to be accountable, not even expected to come up with a decent lie.

Let’s be absolutely clear about the situation. Ireland is not a normal country, it is not like any other Western democracy. It is a country run more along the lines of a mafia operation than a modern democratic state. It is a country where the powerful can do as they wish without the slightest fear that they will face justice.

David Cameron, leader of the UK Conservative Party speaking about the ongoing scandal said;

“There is a time in the life of every government when it slips over from complacency into arrogance, and from arrogance into even indifference for the law”.

To paraphrase him, I would say: There is a time in the life of many states when they slip over from the democratic process and become a country that operates principally for the benefit of the rich and powerful.

The corrupt Haughey began that process in the 1980s and his faithful and admiring protégé Bertie Ahern, has been successfully following his masters low standards ever since.

Copy to:

Fianna Fail
Standards in Public Office Commission
ODCE
Financial Regulator
Revenue
ISE
Dept. of Finance

Mansergh replies

Fianna Fail TD, Martin Mansergh replies to my letter of 27th November.

Madam,

While grateful for Anthony Sheridan’s complimentary remarks about my role in the peace process (Nov 27th), he misrepresents the point I was making about the Taoiseach’s future salary increase.

While the Taoiseach, as elected head of Government, has ultimately more responsibility for the welfare of this country as a whole than anyone else, I did not argue that therefore he ought to be paid better than anyone else, and I made this absolutely clear in several radio interviews.

What I did say was that, when it comes into effect in 2009, his revised pay would, by my rough calculation, with the help of information in reply to a parliamentary question from me to the Minister for Finance, place him around No. 13,000 in the list of high earners. Is this really so out of place?

While my point related to the office not the man, can anyone seriously argue that the successful completion of the Northern Ireland peace process in which he played such a central leading role is not of priceless value to this country, not to mention the most rapid and prolonged period of economic and social progress in our history under his leadership? The Celtic Tiger started when he was minister for finance, continued under the Rainbow, and has been underpinned by social partnership, of which since 1987 he has been one of the principal creators and sustainers, and which gave us the third quarter of this year free of strikes.

Finally, the relatively modest overall cost of the Taoiseach to this country bears absolutely no relationship to the cost of the president of the United States or the president of France to theirs.

Yours, etc,

MARTIN MANSERGH TD,
Dáil Éireann,
Dublin 2.

Mansergh cover up

Fianna Fail TD Martin Mansergh has contradicted the evidence given today at the Mahon Tribunal by Air Corps Brigadier General Ralph James. The evidence concerns an official visit by the then Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds, to the Bahamas in 1994

Mansergh, who was on the trip as a special advisor to Reynolds said the three day visit was a formal trip and not an unscheduled diversion. On The Last Word (Today FM) Mansergh is reported as saying the general’s evidence was based on faulty recollection.

But in his usual sly and underhand way Mansergh is not telling the whole truth.

Brigadier General James did not claim that the trip to the Bahamas was unscheduled. He did, however, claim that there was an unscheduled flight from Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, to the island of Freeport North of the capital.

This unscheduled flight was specifically requested by Reynolds who spent six hours on the island. There is no record of what he was up to for those six hours.

It is clear that Mansergh has no scruples about calling into question the reliability of James’ evidence in an apparent attempt to cover up for Reynolds.

The relevant transcript from the Tribunal is worth reading. Questions 90 – 127 and specifically questions 96 – 98.

Mysterious stop over

The cigar smoking, greasy mustached general accompanied the dictator out on to the runway where the Government jet was ready for take off. His Excellency was on his way to attend a very important meeting where the price of bananas was top of the agenda.

Before boarding the general reminds his Excellency about ‘the other business’ he must attend to after his very important meeting. The dictator thanks the general and promises to promote him to Field Marshal on his return.

The very important meeting went well, much business was done and the dictator boarded his jet for the return flight. Two hours into the flight the pilot is instructed to divert to the Bahamas. Unfortunately, the pilot is new to the job and unfamiliar with the ways of the world; he protests;

“But your Excellency; I must follow the flight plan and take you safely back to our glorious republic.”

After a couple of clatters around the head and a threat that his family would be forced to join Fine Gael, the pilot does what he’s told.

The dictator is in a hurry, only spending six hours in the Bahamas attending to ‘the other business’, before continuing his journey home.

After all he has been away nearly a week now and his people must surely be suffering from the absence of his great leadership.

ENDS

Brigadier General Ralph James was one of those giving some very interesting evidence to the Mahon Tribunal today.

It seems that the then Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds, made an unscheduled flight to the island of Freeport while on an official visit to the Bahamas in 1994. He was returning from St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the US.

Former developer Tom Gilmartin has alleged that Reynolds collected $1 million in New York, Boston and Chicago that year but that only $70,000 made it to the Fianna Fail party.

The general said there was no reason recorded for the unofficial flight.

Ahern's pay rise

Letter in today’s Irish Times

TAOISEACH’S PAY RISE

Madam,

It is widely recognised that Fianna Fáil TD Martin Mansergh is a man of high intellectual abilities.

His significant role in the successful Northern Ireland peace process is also an indication that he is a man of exceptional political and diplomatic intelligence.

It is therefore reasonable to assume he is fully aware that his claim that Bertie Ahern should be the highest-paid individual in the State, on the basis that he has more responsibilities than anyone else, is puerile nonsense (November 22nd).

The fact that a man of Dr Mansergh’s high reputation is reduced to mouthing such a ridiculous defence is itself confirmation that the pay rise was totally unjustified.

If this ludicrous logic was extended to the United States, for example, President Bush would be in receipt of an income greater than Microsoft tycoon Bill Gates, who has a net worth of $53 billion.

Sadly it seems that Dr Mansergh, for all his abilities, is motivated by nothing more than the traditional Fianna Fáil backwoodsman mentality of defending the party and its leader above all other considerations.

He cannot be unaware of the damage such an attitude does to the interests of the Irish people.

Yours, etc,

ANTHONY SHERIDAN

Smothered in love letters from Revenue

I see the Revenue Commissioners have offered yet another amnesty to tax evaders (Sub. Req’d).

Ireland is the only country in the world that operates a policy of continuous amnesties for tax criminals, all other jurisdictions preferring the option of law enforcement.

The latest amnesty is aimed at single premium insurance accounts and was launched in 2005 when Revenue asked insurance companies to write to their customers inviting them to obey the law like everybody else. While this strategy had some success many of those involved declined the offer.

Revenue responded by issuing yet another batch of letters directly to account holders again inviting them to obey the law and promising not to prosecute if cooperation was forthcoming.

Let’s consider exactly what’s happening here. Initially a number of citizens decided to cheat on their taxes through their insurance accounts. When Revenue became aware of this widespread tax criminality they asked the insurance companies to invite the tax cheats to obey the law.

When the criminals replied with two fingers Revenue then decided to write directly, again inviting them to obey the law with promises that if they do they will avoid prosecution.

Remember this is the third occasion in which these criminals have consciously opted to break the law and they are still receiving invitations to meet their obligations.

Irish tax criminals are justified in their two finger response. Revenue has opted for the lazy and cheap option of writing letters of invitation instead of rigorously enforcing the law.

The message sent out is loud and clear – Tax evasion is well worth the risk. Even in the unlikely event of detection the only real danger involved is the possibility of being smothered in love letters from a weak and ineffective Revenue.

Copy to:
Revenue

Ahern’s loan application form

Another day for former AIB assistant manager Philip Murphy. Certainly some curious things are coming up. Transcript here.

One thing that stands out is that when Murphy went over the review of the loan with Ahern in 1995, and an application form was finally filled out (in May 1995, 18 months after Ahern had got the money), Ahern made some rather startling claims. This includes the claim that he was the owner of St Luke’s, when it is apparently owned by a trust established by Des Richardson.

First, the conversation either took place in the O’Connell street branch, in St Lukes, or on the phone.

The form gave the following details. We have probably all filled out loan applications so you get the idea.

Name: Bertie Ahern
Address: St Luke’s, 161 Lower Drumcondra Road
Number of years at address: 8 years
Dependent children: 2, aged 14, 16
Residential status: owner blank, tenant blank, parents blank
If owner, value of house: £90,000 (referring to St Luke’s)
Employment: TD, public representative Fianna Fail
Employer’s name and address: Fianna Fail
Years in present employment: 20
Gross income: Party Leaders Allowance £200k plus TD salary
Regular monthly income after tax : expenses 20k plus 18k? (This bit is vague about what they are referring to, outgoings or incomings)
Frequency of payment: monthly
Other accounts held: Irish Permanent, balance £5k (actual balance was £32,424.23)
AIB, current account (overdraft, £21,896DR)
AIB deposit £22,384 credit
AIB current £3,010 credit
Credit cards: Visa, American Express
Other borrowings: Nil
Purpose of loan: Marriage seperation (note written by Murphy that the loan must be cleared over eight months from deposit acc)

After going through this, counsel gets stuck into Murphy. Murphy is wondering why an SSA was approved on the 23rd, but no money was handed over on that day.

He is hinting that a back-to-back loan (read money laundering) was taken out on the 23rd and that Ahern brought £15,000 in cash, a £5,000 bank draft and a £2,500 cheque into the bank on the 23rd, the same day he took out a loan for almost £20,000.

Murphy denies this, saying Ahern called him on the 30th and said he wanted to lodge “a few bob”, and that this was physically done on the 30th. Why then was the declaration for the SSA application done on the 23rd?

Anyway, on the 30th, Ahern comes into the branch. He sits across the table from Murphy. He takes £15,000 cash out of his pocket, and hands it to Murphy. That’s from someone on less than £40,000 a year. Then he handed over the draft and cheque. Murphy says he would have counted the money in front of Ahern, but can’t remember what the denominations were. He then passed the money on to a teller.

The bank draft was made payable to Des Richardson, and is signed on the back by him. Both that and the cheque are dated December 22nd. The cheque is drawn on the account of Willdover Limited, signed by Des Richardson.

Apparenty, Murphy believes he went to school with Richardson, but not in the same class, and knew him well enough to salute him on the street, but “not to for a pint with”.

Judge Keys then makes a suggestion. Since the bank account numbers are ordered, why not just look at the chronology of other accounts opened to see what date the SSA was actually opened, the 23rd or the 30th.

Documentation shows the lodgments of the monies was made on the 30th, but the legal declaration required for SSAs was signed on the 23rd.

After lunch, the questioning moves on to the lodgment by Ahern of £30,000 into the same branch on the 25th of April 1994 – just four months after lodging the money outlined above.

Murphy got a call from Ahern, who said he wanted to open an account “for the girls”. He said he had money in a safe. Murphy offered to go to St Luke’s. He suggested to Ahern he put it into an account, by topping up his SSA. SSA’s cannot go above £50,000.

Ahern opened the safe behind him, and handed the cash to Murphy. It was probably in an envelope. Murphy counted right there in front of Ahern, but can’t remember the denominations – but it was easy to carry. Ahern said he had saved it, and then said he had more – in a safe in Government buildings. He said to Ahern it was ridiculous to keep the money in a safe. The extra over and above the 50k was to go into the current account. He left the form for opening accounts for “the girls” with Ahern.

On August 8th, in St Luke’s again, Murphy sat outside Ahern’s office. He was there to collect money to lodge to an account for the girls. He was called into the office and was given £20,000. Murphy encouraged him to open a Retail Deposit Account. He is sketchy on whether it came from the safe, and again on the denominations. Murphy again counted out the cash in front of Ahern. He also collected the forms, he thinks.

Murphy then proceeded to put the £20,000 into the worst interest paying account, despite it being for “the girls'” education. The money was withdrawn from this account on October 13th into a retail deposit account, which pays better interest.

That was basically it, next we have Des Richardson.