Limerick election candidate sought €360,000 in ‘go-away money’, Galway developer claims – The Irish Times

A candidate within the native elections in Limerick is being sued by way of a Galway building company amid claims he sought €360,000 to draw out a making plans attraction.

Pat O’Neill, an Detached candidate, appealed to An Bord Pleanála a choice by way of Galway Town Council to provide permission to Strategic Land Investments Ltd (SLI) for one of the vital greatest ever tendencies proposed for Galway.

The corporate has claimed in Prime Courtroom court cases that Mr O’Neill and his agent introduced to draw out the attraction in trade for the fee of €360,000, a convention extra regularly referred to as searching for “go-away money” to oppose the blocking off of a detail building.

Each males have vehemently denied the declare and are protecting the felony motion in opposition to them.

Mr O’Neill, who’s from Clonmacken in Caherdavin, was once a Fianna Fáil candidate within the 2019 native elections in North Limerick however left the celebration this day. He’s now operating as an Detached candidate within the June seventh elections.

Mr O’Neill mentioned he was once “absolutely” protecting the motion taken by way of SLI and denied the declare that he requested for a charge in trade for taking flight his attraction.

“It’s all there with my solicitor. Everything is in writing. Everything has gone in. We have outlined all this. Yes, we will be defending it,” he mentioned.

His co-defendant Liam Carroll of Rooaunmore, Ardrahan, Co Galway, who acted as an agent for Mr O’Neill of their engagement with SLI, has additionally denied the fee declare.

“I will be lodging a defence and counterclaim to the proceedings,” he mentioned in an electronic mail.

In October 2020, SLI submitted an utility for a six-hectare web site at the north aspect of Galway Town that incorporated multistorey place of job blocks, 309 residences, a resort and a diversion centre.

In December 2020, Mr O’Neill made submissions to the council surroundings out objections to the improvement thru a Belfast-based making plans consultancy.

Galway Town Council granted permission for the improvement on August eleventh, 2021.

On August thirty first, 2021 Mr O’Neill submitted an attraction to An Bord Pleanála. He was once the one objector to the improvement.

He argued that the proposed building was once opposite to strategic coverage and to town building plan’s zoning function, that it constituted overdevelopment, and was once opposite to tips for spatial making plans and nationwide roads.

The commentary of declare within the courtroom motion submitted by way of SLI in September 2023 said it was once contacted by way of Mr Carroll nearest within the autumn of 2021 and informed Mr O’Neill had given him felony authority to behave on his behalf.

Correspondence took playground between Mr O’Neill, Mr Carroll and the corporate, principally thru Finian Hanley, a director and shareholder. Some conferences and conversations additionally came about.

The commentary of declare has defined that Mr O’Neill texted Mr Hanley on November eleventh, 2021 to mention he had given Mr Carroll authority to interact with SLI.

On December sixth, in line with the commentary of declare, Mr Carroll texted Mr Hanley to mention he was once contacting him “to establish a resolution of the contentious matters” .

“Without prejudice to me in any capacity, I am assured and understand the sum of 360k, will address the matter in full and final to end all matters [sic],” he wrote.

“I am assured this offer will stand until close of business tomorrow. I do not believe this opportunity will arise at any stage later in the process – as there was a lot of work done to get to this position … .

“In fairness, there is now a window of opportunity available, which will allow everyone to move on immediately.

“Should you accept, my fee will be 1 per cent,” wrote Mr Carroll, signing off the textual content “Liam”.

The commentary of declare alleges that “essentially (Mr Carroll) was stating unequivocally that the planning appeal would be withdrawn on payment of €360,000 and his fee of 1 per cent”.

Upcoming additional negotiations, SLI refused to pay the sum or the fee, the company claims.

Please see day, in September 2022, An Bord Pleanála refused permission on quite a few boxes, together with that the improvement would materially contravene the zoning function for the web site and could be opposite to strategic building coverage and goals for town.

SLI has claimed each Mr O’Neill and Mr Carroll have been thinking about a conspiracy, the principle object of which was once to “unjustly enrich themselves”.

The corporate is looking for damages for alleged loss on account of the 2 alternative events bringing the attraction to the making plans board. SLI has additionally alleged it was once matter to tried intimidation, tried ultimatum and extortion, and was once additionally matter to fraud and deceit.

SLI submitted an utility for judgment in default upcoming incorrect defence was once submitted by way of both Mr O’Neill or Mr Carroll. The applying was once heard on February ninth this day.

Mr O’Neill was once represented on the listening to and was once given an extension till June tenth to publish a defence. The courtroom heard Mr Carroll had written to the pass judgement on, searching for an adjournment in the case of his case, and was once granted one till July eighth.

Based on queries, Mr Carroll showed he could be protecting the case and denied that Mr O’Neill had requested for cash to draw out the making plans attraction.

“At no stage, nor at any time, did Pat O’Neill request or demand money from the applicants of the proposed development in exchange for the withdrawal of his valid submission made to An Bord Pleanála,” he mentioned according to queries from The Irish Occasions.

Mr Carroll mentioned Mr O’Neill held “significant financial business interests that conducted business from three retail shops located in Galway City Centre notably Shop Street and Eyre Square”.

“On the basis the proposed development would adversely affect the viability of Mr O’Neill’s business interests operating from the three locations located in Eyre Square and Shop Street, a submission was made outlining to the local authority, and subsequently, to An Bord Pleanála,” he mentioned.

“The submission proved valid.”

He mentioned he was once having a look ahead to giving proof and having the dispute with SLI resolved in courtroom.