THERE ARE allegations of serious corruption against former Fine Gael TD Liam Cosgrave and it is in the public interest to see those allegations tested before a jury, the Director of Public Prosecutions told the Supreme Court.
Mr Cosgrave was sufficiently aware seven years ago of allegations of corruption in the planning process because he was questioned by gardaí then and had denied receiving corrupt payments, it was also argued.
He was not entitled to an order preventing his forthcoming prosecution on corruption charges on the grounds he had previously pleaded guilty to separate charges under the Electoral Acts or was unaware lobbyist Frank Dunlop had made a statement to gardaí in 2004 about alleged corrupt payments, Anthony Collins SC, for the DPP, submitted.
Complaints by Mr Cosgrave about the passage of time between his trial for the Electoral Act offences and the upcoming trial on corruption charges, plus his complaint that he believed all matters had been dealt with, could be taken into account at the sentencing stage of the criminal proceedings if he was convicted, it was submitted.
Mr Collins outlined the DPP’s arguments opposing Mr Cosgrave’s appeal against a High Court order refusing to halt his criminal trial.
The trial is into alleged corrupt payments concerning land rezonings in Co Dublin.
The appeal concluded yesterday before the five-judge Supreme Court.
The Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Susan Denham, said the court would reserve judgment.
