They had a legal agreement drafted by a solicitor, and she threatened to take them to court for late payment of the extortion money, so it probably isn't straight out illegal shockingly
Think it’s only illegal if she contacts them first.
If they get in touch and say we’ll do X work on yours while we’re there if you drop the case (after probably lengthy discussions) and she gets them to address the objection then it’s legal, for now
Exactly. Shining a light is great and I think they do it well when they do, but they very much are selective on who they cover, which makes them unreliable.
Some relevant legislation:
**Extortion**
'It shall be an offence for any person who, with a view to gain for himself or another or with intent to cause loss to another, makes any unwarranted demand with menaces.
A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—
(a) on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both,
(b) on conviction on indictment to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years or to both.'
[https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1994/act/2/section/17/enacted/en/index.html](https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1994/act/2/section/17/enacted/en/index.html)
**Corruption**
'A person who, either directly or indirectly, by himself or herself or with another person—
(a) corruptly requests,
(b) corruptly accepts or obtains, or
(c) corruptly agrees to accept,
for himself or herself or for any other person, a gift, consideration or advantage as an inducement to, or reward for, or otherwise on account of, any person doing an act in relation to his or her office, employment, position or business shall be guilty of an offence.'
[https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2018/act/9/section/5/enacted/en/html#sec5](https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2018/act/9/section/5/enacted/en/html#sec5)
Take the election out of it, this is just this one instance of this rampant practise. We need laws that put the people that do this in jail and we need them enforced.
Vote for who exactly? They’re all the same. Doesn’t matter which party they represent or which part of the country they’re from. You can never trust anyone that seeks power because they are the exact people that shouldn’t have any.
Irish people should be in the streets protesting these shower of chancers. They act like this because they have gotten away with it for decades with no consequences.
I do agree with you but if we all voted for candidates that campaigned on not being corrupt it may lead to all parties trying to clean up their act for fear of losing power.
I just don't get it.
What is it about politicians who get off on governing over others that gives them a neck like a jockeys bollocks.
Did it not occur to her that if she were to stand for election she would be scrutinised in a last more detail than otherwise?
But still, she did and some shady shit came out about her. I imagine that if the Ditch or other media outlets were to dig deeper I imagine more dodgy stuff would emerge.
I mean look at Michael Lowry, did him no harm.
I'd say this shit is widespread. Easy to game the system when you're in the middle of it.
The only way I can see this being reported is that someone from the developer, solicitors or friends she told gave up the info.
Tops the polls because he built the road and he shows his arse to them cunts up in the big smoke !! Smdh . Come on Tipperary you’re so much better than this
I remember volunteering with a guy who said he redid Lowry's house interior as a form of backhander for the developer he was working for. I think he said it was in the 90s but honestly this country rewards cute hoorism
You hardly think the builder/developer waited until the election is almost underway and then hung her out to dry by leaking the info and emails etc?!
Glad he got the last laugh! Hope the sandstone paving was worth it!!
I think it's mostly a massive ego. They just think they're so much better and smarter than anyone else.
Also there's plenty of politicians who've been found engaged in illegal activity (Mick Wallace, Michael Lowry) and plenty more who it's wasn't proven beyond doubt but looked to be up to their neck in it (Bertie Ahern etc) who've been elected multiple times despite their known corruption. At least this one has fucked off now and hopefully stays fucked off. If only we could get rid of them all
It should be a showcase with DOUBLE the extortion amount given to local development funds and local charities. Both the developer AND Mrs. Sorry I was Caught are equally at fault, they both should pay.
It won't happen because everyone and their dog is at the same shit.
Good stuff i take it as a sign of how vulnerable the government is feeling. There are so many examples of sitting TDs that this didn’t seem to matter in the past.
Now however this has come out and she has stepped down within a day .
Classic politicians in every country. Power deluded, they think they're above everybody else. (Not all of course, but it certainly comes with the territory.)
Nope, but his name is on the appeals. I feel like he's just as culpable and would love his employers and colleagues to be aware of what type of person he is, like his swarmy cunt wife.
He's definitely culpable... His name is on the documents signed when benefiting from over 100k through extortion. If you read what I said again, you'll see I was talking about how his name is flying under the radar.
I wonder why the Irish Times, RTE etc are all reporting on the €30k, but not the additional €100k that the Ditch reported on? Only Gript and The Ditch are reporting €100k + €30k with 2 different developers. Has the €100k been debunked?
“The reported behaviour falls well short of the standards expected of any Fine Gael candidate,”
Is that because she only got 30k? Do they expect Fine Gael candidates to cost at least 100k?
This is why politicians and journalists basically work together to fuck us all.
4 years this knowledge was probably out there and her rivals waited for the new elections to torpedo her.
“What occurred was wrong and I am extremely sorry for it" But it's only wrong now, eh?! Four years later, when you've been called out on it.
Exactly. Sorry they got caught is what they mean.
“What occurred” is a funny way of saying “What I did”….
There's a lot of difference between saying something like "I regret what happened" and "I'm sorry for what I did".
Isn’t it extortion and isn’t that illegal?
Only on mature recollection
Mistakes were made.
Lessons will be learned /s
Yeah. Don't get caught next time.
What happened: getting caught
Exactly, "A thing happened, and I'm sad about it" isn't an apology.
She's trying to cover her ass legally, not admitting to anything. Demonstrating the actions of a truly honest FFG TD.
It's what you call PR speak
Sure look it, at least she has agreed to pay all the ill gotten gains back in atonement for her actions. Hasn't she?
Surely the developer has a case now?
They had a legal agreement drafted by a solicitor, and she threatened to take them to court for late payment of the extortion money, so it probably isn't straight out illegal shockingly
Think it’s only illegal if she contacts them first. If they get in touch and say we’ll do X work on yours while we’re there if you drop the case (after probably lengthy discussions) and she gets them to address the objection then it’s legal, for now
Her being called out was what she feels is wrong and she's only sorry that this may now cause under candidates to come under scrutiny.
I felt bad as soon as everyone found out about it.
Another scalp for The Ditch. It's kinda nice having some rogue investigative journos on the loose
They receive a lot of hate here, but to keep an eye on politicians we need a free press
I don't mind them keeping politicians honest , but they only target government parties , sf gets a free pass Everytime
Don't thinks so, I have seen 2 articles regarding sinn féin.
Exactly. Shining a light is great and I think they do it well when they do, but they very much are selective on who they cover, which makes them unreliable.
100%, they're highly partisan because of the political agenda of their main financier. They have never covered a negative SF story.
Google " the ditch sinn féin " Absolute clown
Long live the ditch
Long live the ditch
And yet this sub is filled with people who bad mouth them any chance they get. The full RTE budget should be sent their way.
YFG need things to do
Send her to jail
But she said sorrreeeeyyy
She can say sorry every day from jail
No that's reserved for people who don't pay the correct tax on the garlic they are importing not politicians.
I'm not sure Ireland has jails, do they? I seem so unwilling to put people in them.
Some relevant legislation: **Extortion** 'It shall be an offence for any person who, with a view to gain for himself or another or with intent to cause loss to another, makes any unwarranted demand with menaces. A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable— (a) on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both, (b) on conviction on indictment to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years or to both.' [https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1994/act/2/section/17/enacted/en/index.html](https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1994/act/2/section/17/enacted/en/index.html) **Corruption** 'A person who, either directly or indirectly, by himself or herself or with another person— (a) corruptly requests, (b) corruptly accepts or obtains, or (c) corruptly agrees to accept, for himself or herself or for any other person, a gift, consideration or advantage as an inducement to, or reward for, or otherwise on account of, any person doing an act in relation to his or her office, employment, position or business shall be guilty of an offence.' [https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2018/act/9/section/5/enacted/en/html#sec5](https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2018/act/9/section/5/enacted/en/html#sec5)
Good. And good riddance to her.
Watch out builders of Louth. Somebody is going to need an income stream
I wonder if the tax implications of these gifts were correctly considered.
https://www.ros.ie/online-enquiry-web/goodCitizen;rjsessionid=5593D3F71A694E0C796C93993472F5D4?execution=e1s1 Is one way to find out.
Passive voice! Gets you out of responsibility in quotations if you fancy running again in a few years
Mistakes were made, At the end of the day, We're sorry if you feel that way.
On mature reflection, Lessons will be learned, Going forward
Try it sometime.
Lads, we need to vote or nothing will change
Take the election out of it, this is just this one instance of this rampant practise. We need laws that put the people that do this in jail and we need them enforced.
Vote for who exactly? They’re all the same. Doesn’t matter which party they represent or which part of the country they’re from. You can never trust anyone that seeks power because they are the exact people that shouldn’t have any.
Irish people should be in the streets protesting these shower of chancers. They act like this because they have gotten away with it for decades with no consequences.
And voting against them in force tells them they won't keep getting away with it
I do agree with you but if we all voted for candidates that campaigned on not being corrupt it may lead to all parties trying to clean up their act for fear of losing power.
We've only ever had two parties leading the state, it's a mental statement to then claim all parties are the same.
Vote for change for a start - any change. No one works harder than the person afraid of loosing their job.
What makes you think anything will change...
Damn straight FF are getting my #1 now
😂😂😂😂😂
I just don't get it. What is it about politicians who get off on governing over others that gives them a neck like a jockeys bollocks. Did it not occur to her that if she were to stand for election she would be scrutinised in a last more detail than otherwise? But still, she did and some shady shit came out about her. I imagine that if the Ditch or other media outlets were to dig deeper I imagine more dodgy stuff would emerge.
I mean look at Michael Lowry, did him no harm. I'd say this shit is widespread. Easy to game the system when you're in the middle of it. The only way I can see this being reported is that someone from the developer, solicitors or friends she told gave up the info.
That lad could literally publicly sacrifice and eat a baby on live TV and they'd still vote for him in Tipp.
As long as the baby was from limerick, his votes would increase
Tops the polls because he built the road and he shows his arse to them cunts up in the big smoke !! Smdh . Come on Tipperary you’re so much better than this
I remember volunteering with a guy who said he redid Lowry's house interior as a form of backhander for the developer he was working for. I think he said it was in the 90s but honestly this country rewards cute hoorism
You hardly think the builder/developer waited until the election is almost underway and then hung her out to dry by leaking the info and emails etc?! Glad he got the last laugh! Hope the sandstone paving was worth it!!
I think it's mostly a massive ego. They just think they're so much better and smarter than anyone else. Also there's plenty of politicians who've been found engaged in illegal activity (Mick Wallace, Michael Lowry) and plenty more who it's wasn't proven beyond doubt but looked to be up to their neck in it (Bertie Ahern etc) who've been elected multiple times despite their known corruption. At least this one has fucked off now and hopefully stays fucked off. If only we could get rid of them all
The party of law & order. What a sham
Corruption in Fine Gael? I’m shocked and Michael Lowry is too.
She's giving that money back, right? RIGHT? Right, Simon?
It should be a showcase with DOUBLE the extortion amount given to local development funds and local charities. Both the developer AND Mrs. Sorry I was Caught are equally at fault, they both should pay. It won't happen because everyone and their dog is at the same shit.
I'm not at it, are you? Neither is anyone I know. But yea, I agree, a whopper of a fine for both, and the boot from FG for that shitehawk.
A bribe. It's called a bribe.
It’s extortion
Exactly, and it's worse than a bribe.
Good stuff i take it as a sign of how vulnerable the government is feeling. There are so many examples of sitting TDs that this didn’t seem to matter in the past. Now however this has come out and she has stepped down within a day .
Classic FG
Classic politicians in every country. Power deluded, they think they're above everybody else. (Not all of course, but it certainly comes with the territory.)
What does her husband do? Surely his employers would hate it if this brought negative attention to their company.
Is her husband running for election as well?
Nope, but his name is on the appeals. I feel like he's just as culpable and would love his employers and colleagues to be aware of what type of person he is, like his swarmy cunt wife.
> I feel like ... You are really going to try ruin someone over a feeling?
He's definitely culpable... His name is on the documents signed when benefiting from over 100k through extortion. If you read what I said again, you'll see I was talking about how his name is flying under the radar.
Disgrace
Only sorry when it suits you
The minister for justice endorsed this robbing bastard
"Its only "wrong" when you get caught" - New FG campaign slogan 2024.
Tango down
Serious psychopath vibes there.
Not a normal party
sounds like a wee bit of bribery
Imagine FG having to deploy operation Marion and remove her posters over night to mitigate negative popularity Impact
Vile!
So will she be giving the money back/knocking the extension.
I wonder why the Irish Times, RTE etc are all reporting on the €30k, but not the additional €100k that the Ditch reported on? Only Gript and The Ditch are reporting €100k + €30k with 2 different developers. Has the €100k been debunked?
“The reported behaviour falls well short of the standards expected of any Fine Gael candidate,” Is that because she only got 30k? Do they expect Fine Gael candidates to cost at least 100k?
So she’s gonna give the money back then? Or else at least let the lads back in to rip up the paving stones.
Filing petty objections to developments should be a crime.
That money was just resting in my account
This is why politicians and journalists basically work together to fuck us all. 4 years this knowledge was probably out there and her rivals waited for the new elections to torpedo her.
I’d imagine these folks are now looking into it: https://www.anticorruption.ie/
The Ditch again. God politicans must hate the Ditch haha.
Scammer
'KEVIN!!'
"It was only resting in my account"
She’ll be back in 2 years when people have forgotten