Is Sean Gallagher telling lies

Bannasidhe · 20-10-2011 02:19PM

jonniebgood1 wrote: »

What- Did I read that correctly? The argument against SG is lost. Sorry folks.

I don't think it is Jonnie - I think it is gathering momentum and he got an easy ride initially as the meja focused on digging dirt on Norris and having a hissy fit over McGuinness. Davis was the next target as her quango membership was another easy thing to focus on.

Serious questions are being raised about SG - his involvement with FF not withstanding:

Sources close to Gallagher were quoted earlier this summer as saying he had never joined a cumann. But his spokesman said last week he was a member of the Ravensdale cumann of the party. He canvassed cumainn in Louth to become a constituency delegate to the national executive and was elected in 2009. However, he attended only two meetings and said he became disconnected. “That was not where my interests lay,” he told RTÉ’s News at One in July.

In a series of interviews Gallagher said he had had no active involvement with the party since 2009. But officially, he remained on the national executive until January 5th this year, when he formally resigned in writing. He did not refer to leaving the party, only to leaving the executive, in the letter to general secretary Seán Dorgan.

He stated in the letter that in recent times it had proved increasingly difficult for him to attend party constituency executive meetings in Louth. “I am regrettably resigning as constituency delegate. I want, however, to express my continued support to you and your colleagues in this challenging period for the party.”

Gallagher has said he joined the executive to campaign for sub-contractors who had been ripped off. But local activists in Louth have privately said that was not his function, that he was there as constituency delegate representing Fianna Fáil in Louth.

He also appears to have engaged in some dubious business practices in relation to gaining grants from development boards he was a director off:

While working with the Louth enterprise board, he and a friend, toolmaker Derek Roddy, came up with an idea for a smart cable system for cable TV, broadband, telephone systems and alarms in homes. The first incarnation of the company Home Wiring Systems was given a €25,395 loan by the enterprise board in 2001, which became the subject of a long-drawn out legal battle before the matter was eventually settled in 2008.

A subsequent company, Smarthomes, grew rapidly during the boom, from an initial turnover of €40,000 in 2002 to over €7 million in 2007. The then taoiseach Bertie Ahern opened its new headquarters in 2006 at a time when the company announced a €10 million expansion, which would create 100 jobs. It made a pre-tax profit of more than €500,000 that year and €105,000 in 2007.

The company experienced record orders during 2007 and 2008, to over €18 million. But it was a double-edged sword. “At this time construction companies were finding it more difficult to sell homes, and were turning to in-home technology to make developments more attractive to buyers,” said a spokesman.

Many of the orders did not materialise and problems arose. The company made a provision for €208,000 in bad debt in 2008 and its overall bad debt amounted to €1.2 million, said the spokesman.

Gallagher used the non-payment of one €186,000 debt to Smarthomes as the basis for a campaign in 2009, highlighting the fact that sub-contractors had been left unpaid by developers. Smarthomes posted losses of €490,000 for 2009, the last annual accounts available. The company has reduced its liabilities to creditors from more than €1 million to closer to €500,000, has no outstanding creditors, and having repositioned itself to cater for a growing smart energy market is predicting a return to profitability this year.

Gallagher resigned as director in April 2010 and is no longer connected with the company.

Smarthomes received more than €700,000 in funding from Enterprise Ireland since 2004 and also received €41,000 funding from the North-South body Intertrade Ireland, of which Gallagher was a director for a period.

It said in 2009 it would create more than 100 jobs but they did not materialise.

It is not possible to evaluate the exact amount of money Gallagher made from the business during his decade-long involvement. In 2008, he and Roddy received more than €500,000 between them. That comprised €196,000 in rent for the company’s headquarters (which they owned); €55,000 in pension costs; and €195,000 in directors’ remuneration...

... Since 2009, he has focused more on his motivational speaking business though Beach Homes Training and Consulting, where his wife Trish is listed as a director. It listed a total of €153,000 for debtors recorded in its latest accounts, which are for 2009. Gallagher was also recorded as having a director’s loan of €89,000 in that year...

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/1020/1224306126656.html?via=mr

A report from a less then impressed young businessman on Gallagher's 4 euro a minute 'mentoring'... http://www.independent.ie/national-news/presidential-election/gallaghers-useless-advice-at-euro4aminute-left-me-feeling-sick-2911605.html

CDfm · 20-10-2011 02:27PM

Bannasidhe, did I see on another thread that you actually admit to being a Professor Higgins supporter.

For 4 euro a minute I would have expected a bit more than talk, then I would not book SG

And I would not say his practices were dubious as he repositioned the business and overcame a lot of bad debt and paid creditors. That is not dubious but honest.

That was some bad debt overhang he absorbed.

Teclo · 20-10-2011 02:30PM

It's Twee again

Michael D.Higgins
4/11

Sean Gallagher
15/8

jonniebgood1 · 20-10-2011 02:35PM

Teclo wrote: »

It's Twee again

Michael D.Higgins
4/11

Sean Gallagher
15/8

The bookies are seldom wrong.

CDfm · 20-10-2011 02:39PM

jonniebgood1 wrote: »

The bookies are seldom wrong.

They are predicting a Fine Gael wipeout by Labour.

There will be tears.

Ash.J.Williams · 20-10-2011 02:46PM

cmon lads....it's getting tiresome...
Gallagher is a fianna failer ....he was in the party, thought about running for election...decided the party was going to lose and be humiliated....he "left" the party ....lay low and has now emerged as a man of the people presidential candidate...(only a few months later)

All the current stories coming out are nonsense...fianna failer rasies money for fianna fail....what's so shocking and new about that???

CDfm · 20-10-2011 02:51PM

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

cmon lads....it's getting tiresome...
Gallagher is a fianna failer ....he was in the party, thought about running for election...decided the party was going to lose and be humiliated....he "left" the party ....lay low and has now emerged as a man of the people presidential candidate...(only a few months later)

All the current stories coming out are nonsense...fianna failer rasies money for fianna fail....what's so shocking and new about that???

Whats your take on him being an alright bloke ?

jonniebgood1 · 20-10-2011 02:54PM

Bannasidhe wrote: »

I don't think it is Jonnie - I think it is gathering momentum and he got an easy ride initially as the meja focused on digging dirt on Norris and having a hissy fit over McGuinness. Davis was the next target as her quango membership was another easy thing to focus on.

Serious questions are being raised about SG - his involvement with FF not withstanding:

He also appears to have engaged in some dubious business practices in relation to gaining grants from development boards he was a director off:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/1020/1224306126656.html?via=mr

A report from a less then impressed young businessman on Gallagher's 4 euro a minute 'mentoring'... http://www.independent.ie/national-news/presidential-election/gallaghers-useless-advice-at-euro4aminute-left-me-feeling-sick-2911605.html

Finally some points against Gallagher put properly with the information quoted and sourced. Thank you.

If a young businessman was willing to pay €4 for being talked to I would'nt particularly give much creedance to his opinion. A fool and his money, etc...
I did read a piece in yesterdays independent that spoke to several people that SG had been involved with after that horrible TV show and even ones that fell through were complimentary about him which I found surprising. If the deals had fallen through you would expect them to be angry or bitter. Unfortunately it was in the paper I saw this so can't link to it.

I would also not give much value to the details of how his companies forecasted growth in 2008 has not materialised. I would say that there are alot of companies involved in construction that have the same situation. Its basic math that if you don't get paid hundreds of thousands of euro for work undertaken then you are going to lose money. I don't think this is the place to go into sub-contractors rights but basically he would have very little legal right to this money when the contractors he worked for went bust. Thus it could be extrapulated that he was a victim of the failed policies of the FF government.

The FF links have been there for a while and I have not seen any proof that he had a role in any meaningful decisions. Thus I don't see how he can be condemned for this anymore than the many who voted for them can. Alot of the anti-SG media is focused on things such as grants that his company received but for it to be a problem we need more information. It is not a crime or indeed untypical for a business to get a grant to help it grow. The aim being I presume job creation. That said I think it is appropriate that all this is looked into. Because he is not a politician there is more potential for some hidden crime in his past and it is interesting to see the media scramble into his background. I don't see him winning the contest but it is interesting to challenge some of the comment on him which has ranged from farcical to fair at times. Between him and higgins is a difficult choice IMO.

Ash.J.Williams · 20-10-2011 02:56PM

CDfm wrote: »

Whats your take on him being an alright bloke ?

I've never met the chap!! He does seem alright as a bloke...my gut instinct is he's a chancer, aren't they all though!

Bannasidhe · 20-10-2011 03:01PM

CDfm wrote: »

Bannasidhe, did I see on another thread that you actually admit to being a Professor Higgins supporter.

For 4 euro a minute I would have expected a bit more than talk, then I would not book SG

And I would not say his practices were dubious as he repositioned the business and overcame a lot of bad debt and paid creditors. That is not dubious but honest.

That was some bad debt overhang he absorbed.

How can you say these arn't dodgy?:

While working with the Louth enterprise board, he and a friend, toolmaker Derek Roddy, came up with an idea for a smart cable system for cable TV, broadband, telephone systems and alarms in homes. The first incarnation of the company Home Wiring Systems was given a €25,395 loan by the enterprise board in 2001, which became the subject of a long-drawn out legal battle before the matter was eventually settled in 2008.

Smarthomes received more than €700,000 in funding from Enterprise Ireland since 2004 and also received €41,000 funding from the North-South body Intertrade Ireland, of which Gallagher was a director for a period.

Seems to me that Gallagher is not that good a businessman (his main selling point being his business acumen) and that around 746,000 of his 'debts' were met by monies from public bodies .... he may not have accepted director's salaries but seems to have no problem taking grants despite there being clear conflicts of interest.

Yup - I'm voting for Higgins - I may have issues with the Labour Party (and the Unions) but not as many as I have with the other candidates. At this rate my 'preferences' will be few...

raymon · 20-10-2011 03:11PM

jonniebgood1 wrote: »

Finally some points against Gallagher put properly with the information quoted and sourced. Thank you.

If a young businessman was willing to pay €4 for being talked to I would'nt particularly give much creedance to his opinion. A fool and his money, etc...
I did read a piece in yesterdays independent that spoke to several people that SG had been involved with after that horrible TV show and even ones that fell through were complimentary about him which I found surprising. If the deals had fallen through you would expect them to be angry or bitter. Unfortunately it was in the paper I saw this so can't link to it.

I would also not give much value to the details of how his companies forecasted growth in 2008 has not materialised. I would say that there are alot of companies involved in construction that have the same situation. Its basic math that if you don't get paid hundreds of thousands of euro for work undertaken then you are going to lose money. I don't think this is the place to go into sub-contractors rights but basically he would have very little legal right to this money when the contractors he worked for went bust. Thus it could be extrapulated that he was a victim of the failed policies of the FF government.

The FF links have been there for a while and I have not seen any proof that he had a role in any meaningful decisions. Thus I don't see how he can be condemned for this anymore than the many who voted for them can. Alot of the anti-SG media is focused on things such as grants that his company received but for it to be a problem we need more information. It is not a crime or indeed untypical for a business to get a grant to help it grow. The aim being I presume job creation. That said I think it is appropriate that all this is looked into. Because he is not a politician there is more potential for some hidden crime in his past and it is interesting to see the media scramble into his background. I don't see him winning the contest but it is interesting to challenge some of the comment on him which has ranged from farcical to fair at times. Between him and higgins is a difficult choice IMO.

Why do you beat up others about providing links and references but refuse to do so yourself .
Please rewrite with reference and links to the above .

raymon · 20-10-2011 03:13PM

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

cmon lads....it's getting tiresome...
Gallagher is a fianna failer ....he was in the party, thought about running for election...decided the party was going to lose and be humiliated....he "left" the party ....lay low and has now emerged as a man of the people presidential candidate...(only a few months later)

All the current stories coming out are nonsense...fianna failer rasies money for fianna fail....what's so shocking and new about that???

He lied about his involvement ..... that is the main point

bijapos · 20-10-2011 03:16PM

gambiaman wrote: »

Polls suggesting the usual 39%+ of the electorate are fooled again - CHECK

It's almost as if last November never happened...I didn't think it would happen so quickly though.

I despair for this country, I really do.

gambiaman wrote: »

Hopefully.
I think he'll get at least the FF 15% or so, it's the rest I'm worried about.

The Sunday Business Post poll had more FG voters voting for Gallagher than for Mitchell. He was getting strong support across the board, especially with transfers. Care to explain that?

I said it last week that after the poll results Gallagher was going to be targeted relentlessly by everyone, there is plenty of dirt on everyone, most of it is known to other politicians and journalists, its just up to them to let it trickle out slowly over the duration of the campaign.

murfinsurfin wrote: »

Sometimes the reporter gets it just right. Fionnan Sheahan, of Irish Independent fame, on RTE this morning, commented on Sean Gallagher's defence of his company loan, seven times that permitted under company law, which was reported in rival newspaper the Irish Times. He said his defence sounded like that one in FR. Ted, "Sure it was just resting in my account". This guy is so greasy you could fry chips off him.
The real problem is the amount of women voting for him, "Ahh sure he looks lovely". Is there so sense left in the country?

Maybe the various party heads on this forum can now shut up about the nonsense that Sheahan is an FF insider.
Thanks.

CDfm · 20-10-2011 03:21PM

Bannasidhe wrote: »

How can you say these arn't dodgy?:

There is not a lot of detail to work with and while there may have been some accountancy issues I cannot see anyone being defrauded or owed money.

Seems to me that Gallagher is not that good a businessman (his main selling point being his business acumen) and that around 746,000 of his 'debts' were met by monies from public bodies .... he may not have accepted director's salaries but seems to have no problem taking grants despite there being clear conflicts of interest.

The sector he was involved in , a luxury goods and construction related business took a hit and he has survived.

Yup - I'm voting for Higgins - I may have issues with the Labour Party (and the Unions) but not as many as I have with the other candidates. At this rate my 'preferences' will be few...

I just knew you were going to say that, if only too annoy me

I took the time to say hello to Professor Higgins when he was canvassing and he is much quieter than on the telly. Herself said the wife seemed nice, she is taller than him you know.

jonniebgood1 · 20-10-2011 03:24PM

Bannasidhe wrote: »

How can you say these arn't dodgy?:

While working with the Louth enterprise board, he and a friend, toolmaker Derek Roddy, came up with an idea for a smart cable system for cable TV, broadband, telephone systems and alarms in homes. The first incarnation of the company Home Wiring Systems was given a €25,395 loan by the enterprise board in 2001, which became the subject of a long-drawn out legal battle before the matter was eventually settled in 2008.

.

"the matter was eventually settled in 2008"

Bannasidhe · 20-10-2011 03:30PM

CDfm wrote: »

There is not a lot of detail to work with and while there may have been some accountancy issues I cannot see anyone being defrauded or owed money.

To accept monies from quangos where he was a director -such as Louth Enterprise Board - is a conflict of interest (and 'dodgy'). To then decline to repay that money by creating a 'new' company to which assets but not the debts of the previous company were transferred to until legally compelled to is ethically questionable to the point of being 'dodgy'.

I just knew you were going to say that, if only too annoy me

I took the time to say hello to Professor Higgins when he was canvassing and he is much quieter than on the telly. Herself said the wife seemed nice, she is taller than him you know.

I'm taller then him - which is not saying a lot...;)

Bannasidhe · 20-10-2011 03:31PM

jonniebgood1 wrote: »

"the matter was eventually settled in 2008"

or to put it another way:

"the matter was eventually settled in 2008"

jonniebgood1 · 20-10-2011 03:36PM

Can we compromise?
"the matter was eventually settled in 2008"
...

Sir Oxman · 20-10-2011 03:38PM

bijapos wrote: »

The Sunday Business Post poll had more FG voters voting for Gallagher than for Mitchell. He was getting strong support across the board, especially with transfers. Care to explain that?

I can't explain it.
But I can guess - FG and FF, two cheeks of the same arse so SG has fooled enough FG supporters with his independent and business claims?
FG voters in 'Anyone But McGuinness' mode, their hierarchy and candidate have been in hysterical mode since McGuinness was announced as a candidate.
I'm guessing the likely cause is they've been hoodwinked by his business shytespeak and semblance of independence. There really is no other description for it.

Gallagher has that remaining FF DNA vote sewn up circa 12-15% - it really is the rest he attracts that worry me - memories of goldfish, one and all.

I think Mitchell will not do as badly as the polls suggest, enough FGers will come out and vote for him next Thursday to avoid total humiliation.

Sir Oxman · 20-10-2011 03:39PM

Bannasidhe wrote: »

or to put it another way:

"the matter was eventually settled in 2008"

"the matter was almost eventually settled in 2008"

murfinsurfin · 20-10-2011 03:41PM

I was just sent this link to the photo of Bertie & Seanny, I particularly like the logo of SmartHomes, "WELL CONNECTED". You sure are Sean, no matter how much you deny it.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=269199849785215&set=a.211872362184631.51469.100000856061133&type=1

jonniebgood1 · 20-10-2011 03:44PM

gambiaman wrote: »

"the matter was almost eventually settled in 2008"

You should really remove the quotation marks now!

murfinsurfin · 20-10-2011 03:48PM

I was just sent this photo of Bertie & Seanny, I particularly like the logo of SmartHomes, "WELL CONNECTED". You sure are Sean, no matter how much you deny it.

Bannasidhe · 20-10-2011 05:53PM

gambiaman wrote: »

"the matter was almost eventually settled in 2008"

'Following prolonged legal action the matter was eventually settled in 2008' perhaps?

K-9 · 20-10-2011 06:07PM

Jaysus, some of the stuff is a bit OTT, but I'd say the Company loan revelation is damning. Many directors don't have a clue it is illegal, but a man with his experience should know.

Tbh I don't get the OTT criticism of Smart Homes, just he was stupid enough to use a quote from a few years back.

He's a lightweight candidate, bit like Adi Roche and also the other independents in this race. How he ever got to 39% is a surprise to me.

jimmycrackcorm · 20-10-2011 07:05PM

K-9 wrote: »

Jaysus, some of the stuff is a bit OTT, but I'd say the Company loan revelation is damning. Many directors don't have a clue it is illegal, but a man with his experience should know.

Tbh I don't get the OTT criticism of Smart Homes, just he was stupid enough to use a quote from a few years back.

He's a lightweight candidate, bit like Adi Roche and also the other independents in this race. How he ever got to 39% is a surprise to me.

Many directors take loans in breach of the rules which are either then picked up their accountants or auditors.

But then again, huge numbers of motorists also break speed laws.

Liam Byrne · 20-10-2011 07:45PM

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

Many directors take loans in breach of the rules which are either then picked up their accountants or auditors.

But then again, huge numbers of motorists also break speed laws.

Then again, we're not being asked for vote for a motorist; unless, that is, Gallagher is one, and if so then he's the same as us in that regard and still worse than us in terms of his shennanigans.

K-9 · 20-10-2011 08:49PM

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

Many directors take loans in breach of the rules which are either then picked up their accountants or auditors.

But then again, huge numbers of motorists also break speed laws.

Depends on how well books are kept, but for a man who was on Dragons Den and offering consultancy advice, it's unforgivable.

Sir Oxman · 20-10-2011 09:15PM

Bannasidhe wrote: »

'Following prolonged legal action the matter was eventually settled in 2008' perhaps?

I say almost as he didn't pay back the full amount for some reason.

KELTICKNIGHTT · 20-10-2011 10:20PM

fg and labour supporters are desperate

Is Sean Gallagher telling lies

Comments