CAB quizzes council employees in extortion inquiry
TWO Dublin City Council employees at the centre of an extortion scandal have been quizzed by detectives from the Criminal Assets Bureau over their involvement in the controversy, the Irish Daily Mail can reveal.
It is understood that the two men were spoken to in 2018. The criminal investigation has now intensified – and the duo are also facing ‘serious questioning’ from Ballyfermot gardaí over the allegations.
The Mail can also reveal Garda Headquarters is ‘trying to establish’ if a ‘widespread practice’ exists whereby council officials are regularly ‘paying off criminal elements’ for so-called protection.
It is understood that CAB referred the case to Ballyfermot gardaí in early 2018.
The two criminals at the centre of the probe – named in court as Derek ‘Dee Dee’ O’Driscoll, 46, Meagans Lane, Crooksling, Saggart, Co. Dublin, and David Reilly, 36, Croftgrove, Ballyfermot, Dublin – are now under investigation for extortion.
In a statement, an Garda Síochána said that on Tuesday Ms Justice Carmel Stewart ‘accepted in entirety’ evidence proffered by CAB and ‘granted orders pursuant to Section 3 Proceeds of Crime Acts 1996/ 2016 on assets’ of two individuals.
‘Certain matters identified in the evidence proffered by CAB were referred to An Garda Síochána during the CAB investigation and, along with local incidents, are subject to an ongoing parallel criminal investigation,’ the statement added, but declined to make further comment as the matter remains before the High Court.
The two DCC workers at the centre of the controversy were named earlier this week in court. In a statement, DCC said it was ‘concerned’ that two of its officers were identified in the High Court ‘without regard to their personal safety’.
A building inspector with DCC, who was named in the High Court case, told CAB that when trying to solve the issue of antisocial behaviour on a Cherry Orchard site, he was met by David Reilly, who assured him he could stop the criminal damage.
The court was told the inspector introduced Eugene Toolis of Westside Engineering, also working in Cherry Orchard, to Reilly. He told Mr Toolis ‘security costs’ would have to be paid to Reilly which could be reclaimed from the council.
MDY Construction Ltd was also approached by Mr O’Driscoll and Mr Reilly about providing ‘security’ at its site in Cherry Orchard. The company declined but after a number of incidents, engaged their ‘fence maintenance services’, at which point the behaviour stopped.
The High Court was told the phone number of Mr Reilly was supplied to MDY Construction by a DCC worker named in court who retired in 2017.
He assured him he could stop the damage