The former government press secretary Frank Dunlop was today jailed for two years and fined €30,000 for corruption after bribing councillors to re-zone land around Dublin for lucrative development deals.
Judge Frank O’Donnell said the public interest required a custodial sentence for Dunlop but he suspended the final six months of the jail term.
Dunlop (62) kissed his wife and hugged his daughter before being led away from Dublin Central Criminal Court by prison officers, and is expected to be taken to Mountjoy later today.
His lawyers are expected to appeal the sentence.
“The word must go out that the corruption of politicians, or anyone in public life, must attract significant penalties,” Judge O’Donnell declared, before handing down the sentence.
The public interest required a custodial sentence in this case that amounted to more than a rap on the knuckles or a token act, he said.
The judge said he was conscious there was not such thing as a victimless crime. Although there was no readily identifiable victim in this case, he had no doubt that Dunlop by his actions had actively undermined the confidence of the public in the democratic system.
In this case, the public, the institutions of State and the democratic system were the victims, he continued.
Judge O’Donnell said Dunlop was motivated by gain and, as a former Fianna Fail and Government press secretary, was in a dominant position. He was perceived as a person with the power to influence people in higher authority over a long period of time.
Pointing out that the charges related to separate acts of corruption in 1992 and 1997, the judge said Dunlop had had no hesitation in renewing his corrupt practices after a long gap. “You have every opportunity to reflect on what you were about.”
“Some people who come before me knowingly commit crimes through a haze of addiction. What you did, you did with a long-range, focused, criminal intent.”
Dunlop was originally charged with 16 counts of bribing Dublin county councillors and pleaded last January to five sample counts of corruption.
He admits handing over money to politicians at different locations in Dublin, including Buswells and Davenport hotels, both a short walk from the Dáil, and St John of God’s Hospital.
He has pleaded guilty to giving £3,000 to former Fianna Fáil senator Don Lydon at St John of God’s Hospital in Dublin; £2,000 to Fianna Fáil councillor Colm McGrath and £1,000 to Fianna Fáil councillor Seán Gilbride, all in 1992, in relation to the rezoning of lands at Carrickmines for development.
He also pleaded guilty to giving money to former Fine Gael senator Liam Cosgrave at Buswells Hotel in Dublin in 1997, and a further sum of money to Fianna Fáil councillor Tony Fox the same year, also in relation to the Carrickmines lands.
