COUNCIL LINKED TO ‘MAFIA’ RACKET
Officials advised builders to pay protection cash, court told
DUBLIN City Council was involved in the payment of “Mafia” type protection money to a gangster.
The claims came in the High Court which ruled €250,000 in bank accounts linked to Derek O’driscoll and his enforcer were the proceeds of crime.
It’s alleged officials advised contractors to meet extortion demands.
Fine Gael’s Danny Byrne said: “It’s like something straight out of the Mafia.”
DUBLIN City council is facing allegations that it advised builders to pay protection money to the head of a drugs gang.
One representative likened the claims to how the Mafia operates in Naples.
It is alleged officials not only advised building firms to pay up, one introduced representatives from a company to an extortionist with 20 convictions.
The revelations emerged when the High Court ruled €250,000 in four bank accounts linked to West Dublin gang boss Derek “Dee Dee” O’driscoll and his enforcer David Reilly came from crime.
The decision is a major victory for the Criminal Assets Bureau.
But there is growing outrage that Dublin City Council appears to be complicit in paying extortion money.
Fine Gael Councillor Danny Byrne said: “When I heard about this I thought I was in Naples – this is like something straight out of the Mafia.
“This is simply bizarre and outrageous that protection money could be paid to a drugs gang.
“I’m calling for a special meeting with the Dublin City Council Chief Executive Owen Keegan and Deputy Chief Executive Brendan Kenny.
ACCOUNTED
“The public deserve to know who paid this money and to whom was it paid and how was it accounted for.
“I also want to know if money has been handed over before and if who was it paid to.”
The shocking revelations came to light on Tuesday when the High Court was told three building firms –, one working for the city council – paid between €1,200 and €1,500 a week to O’driscoll.
It also emerged officials recommended protection money be paid after a spate of attacks on sites in West Dublin in 2016 and 2017.
Diggers were set on fire with the drivers still inside and one worker was hit with bricks trying to escape.
A CAB officer claimed two council officials were not only aware of the attacks they advised the builders to hire O’driscoll and Reilly.
One supplied a phone number while the other facilitated a meeting.
CAB officers also told the court both men are involved in the supply of heroin, cocaine and cannabis.
Sinn Fein raised concerns with senior council officials and the Government about the payments but it appears nothing was done.
The High Court heard one of the companies who hired the pair was building houses for the council and another was building for Co-operative Housing Ireland.
Justice Carmel Stewart noted as soon as they were hired to provide “security” the attacks stopped.
State barrister Benedict O’floinn said the court should ask: “What is going on in this city that council and building companies would see it as appropriate that individuals such as the respondents should be paid simply so that housing can be built?”
He added O’driscoll and Reilly’s lifestyles included foreign holidays, expensive cars and properties were financed by drug dealing, extortion and offences under the tax code.
Mr O’floinn said statements gardai took from representatives of three building firms who said they hired O’driscoll, of Croftwood Grove, Ballyfermot or Reilly of Croftwood Park after anti-social behaviour at their sites in the Ballyfermot/cherry Orchard area of Dublin.
Yesterday Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said: “I am greatly disturbed at reports the council have been in some way complicit in arrangements which would appear to be totally unacceptable.
“I look forward to receiving further reports and trust if there are any criminal investigations that they would continue apace.” Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy said he “cannot condone” payments to criminal figures to allow construction.
He added he has been assured by the council that it is investigating the claims.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said: “I don’t think we’ve reached the conclusion of our investigation. I don’t want to go much further than that because I don’t think I can give the concluding comment.”
Dublin City Council said it “does not condone the payment of protection money by any of its contractors” but did not address claims officials advised firms to do so.
The public deserves to know who paid this money and to whom FINE GAEL CLLR DANNY BRYNE YESTERDAY