The former Fianna Fail minister, Mr Ray Burke, and his wife, Ann, are selling their house and adjoining lands in Swords for a seven-figure sum, according to informed sources. It is thought they are moving to an apartment nearby.
The house is adjacent to a shopping centre currently under construction and is likely to be attractive to developers. The area in which it is situated is zoned for commercial purposes.
In early June 1989 a building company executive, Mr James Gogarty, travelled with the developer, Mr Michael Bailey, to Mr Burke's home. The two men were welcomed by the politician, then in the middle of an election campaign. In his evidence to the Flood tribunal, Mr Gogarty has alleged he paid Mr Burke £40,000, mostly in cash, and that Mr Bailey paid a similar amount. Mr Gogarty said the money was a bribe to get lands rezoned.
Mr Burke denied the bribery allegation, but told the Dail in 1997 that he received from Mr Gogarty "in good faith a sum of £30,000 as a totally unsolicited political contribution". He said the money was in two envelopes. At no time were any favours sought or given, he added. He resigned from the cabinet and the Dail in October 1997, shortly after the Flood tribunal was set up to investigate the payment.
Mr Burke's house, Briargate, was built by Brennan and McGowan, close associates of Mr Burke who raised at least £150,000 for the politician in the 1970s and 1980s. It was designed by the company's principal architect, Mr John P. Keenan. On his last day as minister for the environment in June 1981, Mr Burke appointed Mr Keenan a member of An Bord Pleanala.
