Former lobbyist and Fianna Fáil election agent Frank Dunlop has appeared in a Dublin court on 16 charges relating to corruption.
Mr Dunlop was arrested at 12.10 today, Dublin District Court 44 was told during a five-minute hearing in front of Judge Cormac Dunne this afternoon.
Mr Dunlop (61) will be sent forward to the next sitting of the Circuit Criminal Court.
He was served with the charges by officers from the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) after being arrested at Harcourt Terrace Garda Station in Dublin city centre.
The court was told that, when charged, the former government press secretary replied: “We always knew this day was coming and I will not be contesting the charges."
The list of charges includes allegedly bribing councillors in order to secure their votes on rezoning motions before Dublin County City Council, in relation to lands at Carrickmines in the early 1990s.
They include Sean Gilbride (FF), the late Cyril Gallagher (FF), the late Jack Larkin (FF), Tony Fox, Don Lydon and Colm McGrath of Fianna Fáil and the late Tom Hand, and Liam Cosgrave of Fine Gael.
Sums of money between £1,000 and £3,000 were allegedly handed over to the men, who were then members of Dublin City Council, in places such as Conway's pub, close to the council's offices on O'Connell Street, Buswells Hotel, the Davenport Hotel and at St John of God's.