In a shocking revelation, it was discovered that contractors building houses for Dublin City Council (DCC) paid protection money to criminals to prevent damage and attacks on their sites in west Dublin. The findings were shared with city councillors but the report has not been published.
The criminals, including notorious Dublin criminal Derek O’Driscoll and his enforcer David Reilly, demanded payments of up to €1,500 a week from the contractors. These payments resulted in the attacks ceasing, highlighting the influence of the criminal organization in the area.
The report, conducted by Patrick Butler SC, found that while DCC was not aware of the protection racket, they failed to take any action or investigate the situation when it was brought to their attention. Recommendations were made to improve security measures and ensure compliance with the law in similar situations in the future.
The Department of Housing has urged local authorities to set up protocols for reporting intimidation and anti-social behavior on construction sites to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
This disturbing incident sheds light on the challenges faced by contractors and local authorities in dealing with criminal elements in the construction industry, and the need for improved security measures to protect workers and property.