Dossier on tax dodge scheme for politicians and judiciary is ‘explosive’

A DOSSIER alleging tax evasion by former politicians and members of the judiciary, which has been seen by the Irish Mail on Sunday, was described last night as ‘explosive’ amid concerns about claims based on a mysterious ‘black ledger’ listing names.

Members of the Public Accounts Committee said they expect that the controversial allegations will be bolstered by a full 763-page report from a civil service whistleblower.

However, some members have concerns about the strength of claims surround-

‘It will cause huge problems’

ing a mysterious ‘black briefcase’ carrying details of politicians’ alleged connection to accounts in the Caymans.

The PAC has sought legal advice and will receive a report from lawyers on Wednesday at 4.30pm outlining their next move. The documents, which have been examined by this newspaper, make allegations about some of the usual suspects among Charlie Haughey’s supporters, but a number of household names with impeccable records are also mentioned.

Committee members received the documents on Thursday. One member said he wasn’t sure about the documents at first but further examination made him change his mind.

‘At first sight I thought this was just another crank sending in stuff. But I had a further look at it that day and I realised that this was explosive material,’ he said.

‘It will cause huge problems and difficulties for high-pro- file former politicians and maybe current politicians.’

A row has broken out between PAC member Mary Lou McDonald and Minister Richard Bruton over her claims that he failed to pass on documents to gardaí in 2012.

A civil servant was appointed by former PD minister Mary Harney in 1998 to investigate a scheme of tax evasion operated in Ireland by Guinness Mahon and Ansbacher banks.

He says in the correspondence with the PAC that his report was sent to then Minister Micheál Martin in 2007. It was then passed to the Revenue Commissioners, gardaí, two tribunals and the Office of Corporate Law Enforcement.

There is also a document that was sent to the current Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Mr Bruton in 2012.

According to the documents, the civil servant wrote to Mr Bruton in November 2012 complaining about the termination of ‘the investigation into the very secret Ansbacher ledger which contained Cayman Islands accounts held mainly for the benefit of senior Fianna Fáil TDs (and at least one Fine Gael minister)’.

The civil servant has claimed there could be a cover-up to

‘Household names on ‘secret’ list’

‘protect the reputation’ of various politicians and the judiciary. Later in his ‘executive summary’ provided to PAC, the civil servant outlines how he compiled the list of Fianna Fáil TDs and ministers that he believes held accounts.

‘In early 2004 a former assistant manager in the accounts department of Guinness Mahon informed the Authorised Officer of having regularly posted transactions to the Cayman accounts kept in a black briefcase, when she was [a certain position in bank].

‘This has been confirmed by other former staff members. This former assistant manager stated that on a number of occasions in 1977 and 1978 she had sight of names and account balances in the very secret Cayman ledger and that the account holders included well known Fianna Fáil TDs including [a named and previously unconnected TD].’

The whistleblower submitted the information to the PAC under new laws to protect whistleblowers.