MURDER PLOTS, FALSE DOCUMENTS AND LYING JARVIES
WHAT THE STATE PAPERS REVEAL ABOUT KERRY IN 1987
AHEAD of Charles Haughey’s visit to south Kerry in late 1987 Liebherr Cranes and the Dublin Port and Docks Board both put pressure on the Government to back a deal that could save jobs in Kerry and Dublin.
According to briefing notes prepared for the Taoiseach Liebherr had just completed work on a large crane – which had not been ordered by any specific client – and if they were unable to find a buyer for it a number of jobs at the Killarney plant were at risk.
In a happy coincidence the Dublin Port and Dock Board – who were keen to expand traffic through the port – were seeking to buy a new crane in order to win new business that was then going to Belfast.
The deal would have suited both Dublin and Killarney but unfortunately there was a rather large financial fly in the ointment.
At the time Dublin Port had outstanding debts of £12.5 million of which £7 million was guaranteed by the Irish Government.
As such the port didn’t have the resources to buy the new crane from Liebherr and so the harbour board asked the state to guarantee another £2 million loan so they could purchase and install the crane.
Despite overtures from representatives of Liebherr and the Dublin Port and Docks Board the Department of Finance was less than keen on the proposal which they effectively vetoed.
The Department of the Marine was told that Liebherr was “anxious” to sell the crane as the company “need the money to retain their current workforce.”
The plea – made in person to Minister for the Marine Brendan Daly by Liebherr’s Director Klaus Nolke – fell on deaf ears in the Department of Finance.
It declared, in no uncertain terms, that no financial guarantees would be given to the port board and that there was “little possibility” that the Department would consent to the port borrowing the money, even if it could have been arranged without the state’s backing.