Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005
Morning Ireland (2nd report) did a piece on the arrest of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich for allegedly attempting to sell Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat. The presenter, Cathal MacCoille (I think) expressed astonishment at Blagojevich’s sheer brass neck. The whole tone of MacCoille’s response seemed to be – How could Blagojevich think he could get … Continue reading “The essence of Irish democracy – Dead”
The fraudster Jim Flavin of DCC is walking around a free man because Fyffes, in their own interests, decided to take a civil rather than a criminal case against him. Despite the Supreme Court’s conclusion that Flavin was guilty of insider trading to the tune of €83 million the Irish State has made no move … Continue reading “Special arrangements for special people”
I know only two things about Nick Mulcahy. He is the editor of the Irish business magazine Business Plus and he knows very little about corporate fraud. I gleaned these facts after reading an article in the Irish Independent by Mulcahy in which he analyses the latest developments in the DCC/Fyffes case. According to Mulcahy, … Continue reading “Mulcahy's silly nuclear button”
On 13th May last I discussed the DCC/Fyffes case with Fine Gael TD David Stanton. I wanted the matter raised in the Dail; specifically I wanted to know why the State was failing to take effective action against a man who the Supreme Court found had engaged in insider trading. In addition, knowing that I … Continue reading “Hot air and cynical strategies”
The figures published yesterday in the first report of the Garda Ombudsman Commission are staggering and very disturbing (RTE News, 2nd report). Nearly 3,000 complaints plus 300 referrals from the Garda Commissioner. 750 investigations into allegations of criminal conduct – mostly of assault. Nine files sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (Only very serious … Continue reading “Gardai – Still an undisciplined force”
According to RTEs economic editor, (8th item) George Lee, the Fyffes/DCC saga finally came to an end this afternoon – He’s wrong, it did not. We are also constantly told by George Lee and other so called experts that this is a complex case – It is not. In 2000, Jim Flavin of DCC illegally … Continue reading “A rotten and intrinsically corrupt state”
For decades Irish consumers have been ripped off by rogue businesses because of inadequate protection from the State. In 2005, in an alleged effort to protect consumers, the National Consumer Agency was set up. Unfortunately, its powers were limited to issuing press releases and highlighting rip offs. This situation could only have arisen through gross … Continue reading “Never ending quangos”
The very serious problems that arose at the Barbra Streisand concert last Saturday night were, according to the promoters MCD, caused by the weather, traffic and the fans themselves. No blame whatsoever, it would seem, lies with MCD. Consumers, many of whom paid up to €500 for a seat, think otherwise. They believe they have … Continue reading “(Un)rattled cages”
What was unusual about the news this week that former Fine Gael, now independent TD, Michael Lowry will not face charges for cheating on his taxes? Not that he cheated on his taxes. He’s one of a long line of so called public representatives who obviously believe that paying tax is strictly for the ‘little … Continue reading “What's new?”
The following extracts are taken from RTEs This Week on Sunday March 25th 2007. It is an important post because it records the questions asked by a Supreme Court judge, Justice Hardiman, arising from the disgraceful Frank Shortt case. Mr. Shortt was framed by two policemen and at 59 years of age placed in jail … Continue reading “Unanswered questions”