People of integrity sought to combat sleaze

The last time a newspaper advertisement was placed seeking information about corruption in planning, it led indirectly to the setting up of the Flood tribunal.

Now a Co Kildare man is seeking "like-minded citizens" to campaign against corruption and secure convictions of wrongdoers.

Mr Gerard McHugh of Maynooth is appealing for support from individuals and corporate bodies for his anti-corruption campaign. His call appeared in an advertisement on the back page of The Irish Times on Saturday, under the title "Fed up with political corruption?"

Mr McHugh says he wants to make public servants and politicians more accountable, and he is not satisfied that the existing mechanisms for investigating corruption are making enough progress.

"I'm not willing to sit back any longer and watch these corrupt people rape the country of its resources," he says. "So I'm looking for like-minded people to step up to the plate and give something of their time and resources."

He says the campaign would bring civil cases against individuals it considered to be corrupt in instances where the State failed to prosecute.

"I'm not satisfied that the State agencies are doing all they can. Why isn't the Criminal Assets Bureau more active in the area of white-collar crime? And why hasn't the Director of Public Prosecutions brought forward more cases under the existing anti-corruption legislation?"

As for the tribunals, he claims they are not moving fast enough and they do not have the power to bring prosecutions.

Mr McHugh, who works as a consultant to international humanitarian organisations, says he has no political affiliations and "no ulterior agenda".

He can be contacted at 045 893943. A website is under construction at indigo.ie/haction/