Ireland

Two former Anglo Irish Bank executives convicted of conspiring to conceal or alter bank accounts being sought by Revenue did not receive a fair trial, the Court of Appeal was told yesterday.

Former businessman Breifne O’Brien has lost an appeal against his seven-year jail sentence for inducing others to advance millions of euro to him for investment in bogus property deals.

The specialist Garda unit tasked with combating fraud and white collar crime does not have any dedicated financial analysts.

The Independent politician is fighting to save his political career after last Tuesday’s RTÉ Investigates programme. The programme alleged that the Kilmacrennan councillor asked for payment in return for helping out a fictitious windfarm company set up in Donegal.

MINISTER FOR THE Environment Alan Kelly has serious questions to answer; over his meeting last December with a company that was subsequently the most successful bidder in a state tender.

The Sligo councillor at the centre of this week’s RTÉ exposé has said he will not be resigning his council seat. Joe Queenan who resigned from Fianna Fáil in the immediate aftermath of the RTÉ investigation into political lobbying, apologised for failing to complete his statutory declaration for 2015 correctly, and for mentioning a potential investment in an agri-feed business.

A Government minister has confirmed that gardaí are examining the RTE programme that uncovered politicians looking for personal gain and others who failed to declare interests.

POLITICAL PARTIES ARE lining up to express shock at last night's RTÉ Investigates documentary that show a number of councillors appearing to offer help in return for cash.

Facebook's MAIN IRISH arm paid €3.4 million in tax to the Exchequer last year on sales of €4.8 billion booked through its local operations. Accounts recently filed for Facebook Ireland Limited showed a 64% rise in turnover recorded for its subsidiary compared to the figures for 2013. The company paid €2.3 million in corporate taxes that year.

COUNCILLOR Joe Queenan has resigned from Fianna Fáil following revelations in an RTÉ Investigates documentary. The programme alleged a host of wrongdoing among politicians flouting rules about the non-disclosure of business interests.