An IRA money laundering claim made against a businessman by a DUP politician
was back in the spotlight today after a High Court judge described it as "
baseless".
Mr Justice Gillen made the statement while rejecting a judicial review taken
by the Sheridan Group, headed by Belfast developer Peter Curistan.Mr
Curistan was accused under parliamentary privilege by DUP deputy leader
Peter Robinson in February 2006 of a link to "IRA dirty money".
He strongly denied the claim and argued that it led to his company being
ditched later in the year from an investment scheme for the publicly owned
Queen's Quay site in Belfast.Mr Justice Gillen today rejected Sheridan's
judicial review case against the Queen's Quay decision, dismissing
allegations of bad faith and unfairness against the Government.
The judge concluded that the company's axing from the project was due to an
accounting review which had shown up corporate governance weaknesses.
However, he also referred to money laundering allegations as "baseless"
— echoing a comment by a Government lawyer during the hearing of the case
last month.Mr Curistan today said he was disappointed with the ruling,
adding: "Nevertheless, I am completely satisfied with the comprehensive
vindication of my own personal reputation, and that of my company, by the
trial judge in relation to the malicious and unfounded allegations made by
Peter Robinson in the privileged confines of the House of Commons some time
ago."
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