THE DIRECTOR of Public Prosecutions has decided not to prosecute a man who it was alleged had offered a bribe to a town councillor.
The file has been with the DPP since last August and this week he returned it to the Garda and said he was not pursuing a prosecution.
The investigation began as a result of Councillor Frank Gallagher (58) alleging at a meeting of Drogheda Borough Council that a “consultant” offered him a “fee” if he voted a particular way on a matter to be debated at a council meeting.
He made his allegation at a meeting of the borough council last year.
He subsequently made a detailed statement to a senior garda in Drogheda outlining the details of the alleged incident which included revealing the identity of the consultant.
Mr Gallagher claimed the man had called to his house shortly after he had been elected and offered him what was termed a “fee” if he voted in a certain way on a matter that would be debated at a future meeting.
He also spoke to Mr Gallagher about where he (Gallagher) was then working and said he could put more work his way. He described himself as a “consultant” and said he had a number of clients, according to Mr Gallagher. Gardaí interviewed the consultant involved and as part of their investigation put the allegations to him.
Yesterday gardaí confirmed the DPP had decided not to prosecute. They said they had carried out a “full and proper” investigation into the matter.
It is understood the DPP considered whether there had been a breach of the Public Bodies Corrupt Practices Act 1889 under which it is an offence to offer a bribe to a person in a public body.
This is the act under which charges were preferred against former government press secretary and lobbyist Frank Dunlop.
Mr Gallagher became the first member of the Socialist Party to be elected to a local authority in Louth following the June 2009 local elections. He said he was “dismayed and disappointed” at the decision of the DPP.