Meath Fine Gael candidate – and assistant to Damien English – in battle with council over unlawful development

A Fine Gael local election candidate and parliamentary assistant to ex-junior minister Damien English is in a battle with Meath County Council – which has served an enforcement notice on her and her husband for unlawfully building a “lodge” on their property without planning permission. 

A third agreement: Agrios had developer increase planning appeal package by €26,000

Fine Gael’s Marian Agrios entered into another agreement – separate from the two already reported by The Ditch – that compelled a property developer to increase a more than €100,000 package she got to withdraw a planning appeal.

Irish Freedom Party candidate runs converted office Airbnb under fake name for almost €1,000 a week

An Irish Freedom Party European candidate uses a fake name to run a rent pressure zone Airbnb in a converted office space for almost €1,000 a week.

Military cargo plane carrying US general landed in Shannon on way to Israel, wasn’t searched

A US general onboard a military cargo plane that’s frequently used to transport munitions stopped in Shannon Airport last month on his way to Israel – but Irish authorities didn’t search the aircraft for weaponry.  

Fine Gael candidate withdrew planning appeal after signing agreement for work worth €100,000

Fine Gael local election candidate Marian Agrios withdrew a planning appeal after signing an agreement for more than €100,000 worth of work to her house.

Fine Gael candidate got €15,000 to withdraw planning objection

A Fine Gael local election candidate had a developer pay her €15,000 and carry out €15,000 worth of work to her house so she would withdraw her objection to a housing development in county Louth.

Fianna Fáil election candidate allegedly ‘coerced’ elderly man to make will

A Fianna Fáil local election candidate allegedly befriended an elderly man with mental issues and later encouraged him to execute a new will.

Irish pro-militarisation group counts international arms manufacturers as members

An Irish pro-militarisation group lobbying government to increase state participation in the arms trade has finally admitted to having two international arms manufacturers among its members. 

Comment: Common sense politics are responsible for the crises we face

The economic and social right have a convenient explanation why our institutions are rapidly deteriorating – a lack of common sense.

Quanta Capital boss 'deeply sorry' for role in abduction

The CEO of a company that owns an illegally built estate being used to house asylum seekers says he is “deeply sorry” for his role in abducting and beating a young man.

Fianna Fáil candidate lied about conviction and planning breaches

A Fianna Fáil election candidate with a criminal conviction and enforcement action for breaching planning law tried to claim to The Ditch these issues concern a different person with the same name. Shane McGuinness denied he’s being pursued by Louth County Council for illegally converting a garage into a

Fine Gael justice minister Helen McEntee appointed convict, party candidate to peace commissioner role

Fine Gael Justice Minister Helen McEntee appointed a party colleague, who’s running in the upcoming local elections, as a peace commissioner despite his 15 criminal convictions.