The investigation in Co Cork into a controversial €11.6 million land deal has been widened to include a number of other transactions.
Cork County Council confirmed yesterday that the investigation it is conducting involves a number of property transactions in the north Cork division of the county.
The Irish Times has been given details of a property transaction in which the council may have sold land in a way that could work against it achieving the highest price possible.
When asked to confirm the details, a spokeswoman for the council responded: "The council's own ongoing internal investigation of issues raised in connection with the proposed purchase of a 20-acre site at Charleville includes an examination of a number of issues relating to property transactions in the north Cork division of the county. It is not appropriate for the council to comment until that investigation has been completed."
The Charleville inquiry was initiated by the council after it received a complaint on May 19th from John Daly, a director and shareholder of Pushkin Developments Ltd. The council subsequently called in the Garda.
Mr Daly questioned why the council was paying €11.6 million for the land when Pushkin developments had placed it on the market in September 2005 and engaged selling agents to conduct a marketing campaign that included advertisements in the national press.
Pushkin sold the land for €8 million to Permanent TSB branch manager Denis O'Reilly and Permanent TSB regional manager Brian Cremin. They in turn contracted to sell it on to the council for a €3.6 million profit.
The sale has not yet been closed and the two men are taking legal action against the council to try to force closure.
Mr Daly in his letter said Pushkin accepted the offer from the two men on November 7th. The county manager, Maurice Moloney, has said the council was first contacted by solicitors acting for the two bankers in October.
Mr Daly also said the land was put on the market in late 2004 when a price of €5 million was sought. At the time the land, which was zoned for housing, did not have planning permission.
Mr Daly said the selling agents contacted the council and were told "they had no interest in the site and no interest in purchasing lands in Charleville".
