Pensioner jailed for obstructing CAB
A 70-year-old man was jailed for two days today for obstructing the work of the Criminal Assets Bureau.
Thomas McGrath was said to have hidden a file in a photo-copier when officers from the bureau raided a Dublin solicitor’s premises.
McGrath, married and from Terenure, Dublin, admitted hiding the file at Binchys solicitors, where he worked as office manager, in March.
He appeared in the District Court soon after the incident and was sent to prison for three days.
He appealed against the severity of the sentence and was released on bail.
But today he was told by a judge at Dublin’s Circuit Court that he would have to serve two days.
The CAB raided the office as part of an on-going inquiry into planning corruption allegedly involving a former senior Dublin Corporation official and business figures.
In all, hundreds of documents have been seized in swoops on a number of premises throughout Dublin.
McGrath’s lawyer, Michael Staines, said that although the offence had been inexcusable, it was out of character. McGrath was 70 years of age, was now retired and he would not re-offend.
But Judge Jacqueline Linnane upheld the conviction and said it had been a "serious matter".
McGrath was taken to Dublin’s Mountjoy jail immediately after today’s hearing.
