Kennedy disposes of his Irish businesses and nationality

Mr Jim Kennedy, the controversial businessman who is refusing to return to Ireland to appear before the Flood tribunal, has divested himself of his business interests here and renounced his Irish nationality.

Mr Kennedy, whom the tribunal wishes to question about his links to former Fianna Fáil TD Mr Liam Lawlor and the former Dublin assistant county manager, Mr George Redmond, among other matters, has been ordered to appear before the tribunal next month.

However, Mr Kennedy (55), through his solicitors in Gibraltar, has issued a flat denial of any involvement in the matters the tribunal is investigating.

He is not expected to turn up in Dublin Castle next month.

Ownership of his Irish business and property has been moved to family members in recent years.

His main business is an amusement arcade in Westmoreland Street, Dublin, where Mr Redmond once called on a regular basis to collect cash payments. Last year, Mr Kennedy was replaced as a director of KSK Enterprises, which runs the arcade, by his son, John, a 19-year-old chef. The other director is Antoinette Kennedy, his second wife.

Mr Kennedy, who hails from Abbeyleix, Co Laois, now claims to be a "British subject", having renounced his Irish nationality.

This requires the making of a declaration of alienage, which has to be approved by the Minister for Justice, according to the Department of Justice. The procedure, which is usually only availed of by Irish citizens living in states where dual nationality is not permitted, is very rare.

Mr Kennedy lives for most of the time in a large mansion on the Isle of Man, although he also maintains an address in Gibraltar.

His wife and son are listed in Companies Office documents as residing in Deerpark Drive, Castleknock, around the corner from Mr Redmond's former home.

Another company in which Mr Kennedy was involved, Lismore Homes, has been in liquidation for many years. It was involved in building a housing estate in Lucan, but collapsed in 1989, leaving substantial debts.

He also owned a pub, The Laurels in Clondalkin, but sold it for £700,000 in 1986.

Mr Kennedy is one of the beneficial owners of 106 acres of land in Carrickmines which is held in the name of an English company, Jackson Way. The Flood tribunal is currently investigating allegations that county councillors were bribed to secure the rezoning of the company's land.

His interest is held offshore through a complicated trust structure involving companies in the Isle of Man and Liberia.

Mr Lawlor has denied having a business relationship with Mr Kennedy, but it has since been firmly established that the two men were involved in a number of substantial projects. Last week, the tribunal heard evidence implicating Mr Lawlor in attempts to rezone Mr Kennedy's land in Carrickmines. Mr Lawlor denies the allegation.

The tribunal resumes today after a one-day break forced by the unavailability of a witness.