Peoples Democracy The biggest news story throughout September in revealed in "Greencore, the first major company to be privatised by the 26 county government. The privatisation programme of the Dublin government is in disarray, as more and more shady deals and corrupt practices are revealed.
So far it is known that tik chief executive of Greencore (formerly the frish Sugar Com any), Chris Comerford, and our other excrutives were set to pocket profits of over 7 million. The most damaging and politically embarrassinihat the factor swindle occurred when the company was wholly owned, and they were directly responsib-k n 1988 the board of Irisk Sugar, diono "y approved a loan of 1 million to MichaelTully, and Thomas Keleghan - to buy vut 49% of "'Sugar Distributors"
The state, through the Irish Sugar Company. ad owned 51% since 1475 and it was Irish Sugar's main marketing and oistrouio months later, Irish Sugar bought these same shares for 9.5 million.
Thieves fall out
The Irish public might never have found out about thin scam, except that Comerford et al fell This article is the first of a regular series to be contributed to Socialist Outlook from comrades in Peoples Democracy, the Irish section of the Fourth International. out over dividing the loot. The 49% share had been bought by Gladebrook whese ownership is hidden be hind a string of at least cight companies registered in Jersey. went to the High Court in Dublin, claiming against his former cronies ownerhip of one of these companies, that the scandal began to unravel orced to resign from Green nore. But not before the boan Manicu hin a volen hand shake in cash, plus pension rights worth avor e nilsen. fow days fully, also resigned. Michael A culture of corruption For Irish workers, the Greencore affair sooms not mist the unacceptable face of capitalism, only face. There has been a plethora of scandals in recent yeam and the general atntude to the current inquiry d cynical.
here has been the collapseof the 'Larry Goodman Grup' of beef exporters, which the "Gallagher Group' collapsed, following a swindle involving millions Both Gallagher and Goodman were na Fail and Prime minister Charles Haughey Flanna Fail government mininters and deputies have been involved for vears in county planning decisions and land sales. These have netted untold fortunes private speculators. In fact, Dublin county council had no time for other business during its last six year tenure.
Ina month in which a rooftop il was brutally suppressed. rish workers will not hold their frish PM, Charies Haughey: would you buy a used industry from this man? surance and other scams. Theti - breath to see if Greencore's board join the inmates in their setting the entire web of Green To disclose ownership of the Coule only UTUET in jersey granted This criminal proceeding are underGiven the government's direct stake in overseeing the Suar c ay ane oatom and that the consultants responsible for overseeing the sale of it would seem that dubious dealings with offshore panies are common. probably came to light purely by chance and Comerford's grond The trade unions The unions have orrv role in theaffair. There ha been complete silence from the and Social Progress) with the government.
involves a minimal three pay deal that the government wants to renege on.
The ICTU has : dropped its 099088807889 privatisation without any con. erence agreement. Anther fac Atlee, the general secretary o biggest union and an ICTU leader, is also a Green-
squalid conditions. The likelihood of the inquiry
for Econom The Programme Economic