A former senior executive engineer with Waterford County Council has been arrested and charged with an offence relating to the awarding of a contract by the council for the laying of kerbing in Dungarvan.
Joseph Brennan, Ring, Co Waterford, appeared at Dungarvan District Court yesterday. He is charged that in November 2002 at Waterford County Council offices in Dungarvan, he induced Joe O'Flaherty to award a kerbing contract to David O'Riordan with the intention of making gain for Mr O'Riordan.
Det Garda Shay Keevans gave evidence of arresting Mr Brennan at his home at 10.40am. He said Mr Brennan made no reply to the charge after caution.
Supt Tom O'Grady told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed that the matter be dealt with on indictment before a judge and jury and said that there was a possibility of further charges being brought against Mr Brennan.
Supt O'Grady said gardaí had no objection to bail being granted to Mr Brennan, but they were anxious that an independent surety be set given the serious nature of the offence with which he had been charged.
Mr Brennan's solicitor, Paddy Gordon, objected to the application for an independent surety, saying his client had no previous convictions and was not a flight risk. "He is a professional man anchored here in this country."
To seek an independent surety on the basis that further charges may be laid was "unduly onerous" while the State was being "oppressive" in seeking an independent surety, given the charge related to something that was alleged to have happened five years ago, said Mr Gordon.
His client was also concerned about the manner of his arrest and the fact that he was greeted by "a clatter of journalists " when he was brought to court.
Det Garda Keevans assured him he did not know how the media came to be at court.
Judge Terence Finn remanded Mr Brennan on his own bond of €5,000 and made it a condition of his bail that he surrender his passport and undertake not to seek any replacement or any other travel documents and that he not leave the jurisdiction.
Judge Finn formally extended the time for the service of the book of evidence by consent and remanded Mr Brennan on bail to appear again at Dungarvan District Court on March 12th when he will return him for jury trial at circuit court level.