Seen & Heard: INM review clears Leslie Buckley in Newstalk row

INM review clears Buckley in relation to Newstalk row

According to a report in the Sunday Times, an external review of corporate governance issues at Independent News & Media (INM) is understood to have cleared chairman and Denis O'Brien's right-hand man Leslie Buckley of any inappropriate behaviour in relation to the potential acquisition of Newstalk, a national radio station controlled by Mr O'Brien.

The review was apparently delivered to the board of INM in the past two or three weeks. The review had been prompted by a very public clash between chief executive Robert Pitt and Mr Buckley over how much might be paid in any bid for Newstalk.

A subcommittee of the board investigating Pitt's concern over the valuation found Buckley had no case to answer. Pitt subsequently made a protected disclosure under the whistle blower legislation. The review was conducted by senior counsel David Barniville and Stephen Kingon, a senior independent governance expert and former managing partner of accountancy firm PwC.

Irish company taking stock of news in local communities

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AIG to sponsor the IMI’s national conference

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Eoghan Murphy calls housing crisis meeting with local authorities

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RTÉ spent €40.3m on independent productions in 2016

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Cooper and Yates to replace Browne at TV3

TV3 has come to the conclusion that it will take two presenters to fill the boots of Vincent Browne on its Tonight Show. The Sunday Business Post reports that the station has lined up Matt Cooper and Ivan Yates to present the current affairs show, which will return in the autumn.

While some shows will be co-hosted others will involved only one anchor. While both presenters will team up on TV3, they are competing on drivetime radio. As the new presenter of Newstalk Drive, Yates is pitted directly against Cooper's show, The Last Word, on rival station Today FM.

O’Flynn given leave to challenge Dublin planning refusal

The Sunday Independent reports that developer Michael O'Flynn has been granted leave by the High Court to bring judicial review proceedings against An Bord Pleanála over its rejection of his firm's plan for a major housing development in south Dublin. O'Flynn Capital Partners is seeking a determination from the courts on a recent decision by the board in which it was refused planning permission for the development in Cabinteely.

The review, which is due to come before the High Court in October, will consider whether or not An Bord Pleanála erred in its decision by examining issues relating to part of the site which sits within the Cherrywood Strategic Development Zone.

Bloxham sued over ward’s fund

The Sunday Times has a piece on Margaret Best, the woman who won a lengthy legal battle against drugs multinational Wellcome on behalf of her disabled son, Kenneth, and her new legal suit against the now-defunct stockbroker Bloxham and its former partners over the management of her son's funds.

High Court records show that Best, along with her daughter Carmel, filed a case in December on behalf of her son. It is understood they want the former brokerage to account for its dealings with Kenneth's fund, which it was appointed to managed in 2002.

Funds buy Israeli embassy building

A joint venture between US investment fund Colony NorthStar and U+I, a British property firm, has bought Carrisbrook House, the home of the Israeli embassy in Dublin. The Sunday Times reports the eight-storey octagonal office block gained notoriety after it emerged that the State paid annual rent of almost €1 million for office space at Carrisbrook that lay vacant for almost a decade.