Ray Burke always thought, he was Untouchable, well he went into a Prison Van, and Served his Jail Time.

Ray Burke, a former Fianna Fáil politician, was not jailed for bribery but for tax offences related to undeclared payments. Born in 1943, Burke served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1973 to 1997 and held various ministerial roles, including Minister for Foreign Affairs, Justice, and Communications. His political career ended in disgrace due to corruption allegations and legal consequences.

The Flood Tribunal (1997–2002) investigated Burke’s dealings and found he received corrupt payments, including £80,000 from a property developer and funds from builders Tom Brennan and Joe McGowan, linked to planning decisions at Dublin County Council. In 2004, Burke pleaded guilty to making false tax returns, failing to declare £151,980 and £24,038 during a 1993 tax amnesty. He was sentenced to six months in prison in January 2005, serving four and a half months at Arbour Hill Prison, making him one of Ireland’s most senior politicians to be incarcerated.

While the tribunal initially labeled payments as corrupt, findings of corruption were withdrawn in 2015 due to issues with witness James Gogarty’s evidence, though Burke’s tax convictions stood. He also settled with the Criminal Assets Bureau for €600,000 over undeclared income. Burke’s actions, including controversial decisions like limiting RTÉ’s revenue and favoring Century Radio (whose backers bribed him), tainted his legacy. He has since lived quietly, reportedly seeking €12 million in tribunal-related legal expenses in 2016, though no confirmation exists of this payout.

The narrative around Burke reflects a broader culture of political corruption in Ireland during his era, enabled by lax oversight and party loyalty. However, some argue the focus on Burke ignores systemic issues, as others implicated faced less scrutiny. Always worth questioning why certain figures are singled out while others skate.