Cocaine, Blackmail and a Political Scandal

Liam Kelly was once described as the golden boy of Fianna Fáil. He was even regarded by his local Cumann as the inevitable successor to his senior constituency colleague, Minister Pat Carey. However, Kelly’s political career was left in tatters after a damaging photograph, in which he appeared to be snorting cocaine, was published by the tabloids in 2006.

The grainy, low-quality picture – which was snapped on a mobile phone – showed the councillor with a straw in his nostril, inhaling a white substance. If the damning photograph was not enough evidence, the fact that he refused – until now – to publicly comment on the scandal only compounded his apparent guilt.
However, it has now emerged that the 38-year-old politician was “ordered” not to speak because a Garda investigation was in progress; Fianna Fáil was also conducting its own internal enquiry, following his suspension from the party. The way Kelly tells it, he blacked out on the night in question as a result of his alcoholism. He may well have snorted something – the photograph may be murky, but he was clearly photographed in the act of snorting – but he subsequently presented the authorities with a toxicology report stating that there was no trace of cocaine in his system, shortly afterwards. The Garda inquiry concluded that the photograph – however it came about – was used to blackmail the councillor. A suspect with a record for extortion was arrested but has since absconded, prompting the courts to issue a bench warrant for his arrest.
For some inexplicable reason, the Fianna Fáil inquiry took substantially longer than the Garda investigation. In fact, it only concluded last week: Kelly was exonerated and welcomed back into the political frame – on the bizarre condition, Hot Press has established, that he apologise for any embarrassment to the party and not speak publicly about the scandal.
This latter condition was the final straw for Kelly, who felt it would be impossible to remain silent forever about the incriminating photograph. In a move that is sure to shock his party colleagues, Kelly has now decided to retire from political life and wants to tell his side of the story in an effort to clear his name.
Kelly says he was out drinking on the night of the scandal. He wanted to “drown his sorrows” following a phone call from a surgeon with the sad news that his father was diagnosed with a brain tumour, from which he subsequently died. He says that he bumped into an acquaintance – a convicted fraudster – who invited him back to a house party.
He says: “The problem is – and I have to be very, very honest about this – I suffered from a severe case of alcoholism that manifested itself in binge drinking. I was prone to regular blackouts. I do not remember any cocaine use happening on the night. All I know is – and there is a lot of evidence to support this – the whole thing was a set up by somebody with a premeditated attempt to embarrass me with the view of obtaining money from me in return for those images. It was an unsuccessful attempt to blackmail me.”
He insists he did not take drugs. “I do not take cocaine and do not purchase illegal drugs. I had very little money on me that night, so I’m positive that I didn’t buy any cocaine. I know I went out that night to drink and not to look for cocaine. I had got into a situation – in the year on the run-up to that incident – where I was waking up with cuts and brushes after nights out, wondering how I actually got home. I ended up in a situation where I’d go drinking with virtually anybody after-hours if there was drink to be got. That lead to poor judgment and it lead to a situation where I could be compromised.”
The next day Kelly was sent a text message requesting a so-called “loan” from this acquaintance.
“It then progressed to weird, threatening calls. Eventually, I got a threatening call demanding €5,000 in return for these images. I didn’t know what images he was talking about,” says Kelly.
Within 48 hours of the party, a panicked Kelly went to a toxicology expert who, after taking blood and urine samples, found that there was no trace of any cocaine is his system.
“There was no evidence of any illegal substance in the blood or urine samples. There wasn’t any cocaine in my system. I ignored the threats as I felt I had nothing to account for or to explain to anybody. Even if it was true, by the way, I don’t think I would have handed over the money out of sheer principle. I made many mistakes in all of this, but the worst thing I could have done was pay the money. I was acutely aware that this was attempted extortion and I reported the matter to the Gardai as soon as possible,” Kelly reveals.
After Kelly refused to pay for the photograph, the man sold the damning evidence to a Sunday tabloid, for a sum of €5,000. Kelly was approached on the street by the newspaper and shown the photograph. “I was very confused and very frightened and very embarrassed when I initially looked at that photograph. It took me a few days to get an understanding of what happened,” he says.
“After speaking to the Gardai and to party headquarters, I agreed – because there were inquiries going on – not to talk about it publicly. It was the right thing to do at the time in terms of respecting those inquiries – especially the Garda inquiry. But in retrospect, the best thing I could have done was actually talk openly about it and, at least, explain my side of the story. It took me some time to come to terms with all this. My only concern now is to do the right thing and explain to my constituents and the public how I got into that situation. They are owed that explanation. I understand the mistakes I’ve made. I hope people will understand and forgive me for the situation I put myself in.”
A short while after the picture was splashed across the front pages of several tabloids, Kelly decided to face up to his problem with alcohol.
“It forced me to confront my alcohol problem. Over the previous number of years it was getting worse and worse. I sought medical advice and was admitted to the Alcohol Treatment Programme in St. John of Gods Hospital. I undertook a six week intensive programme there, which I successfully completed. I am currently attending aftercare sessions,” he says.
What was that experience like?
“It was very tough. I was stubborn going in there and, like a lot of men, we all think we can deal with it in our own way without actually having to go to counselling. Bit by bit the nurses and staff worked on me, and fellow patients worked with me. I came out of it an awful lot stronger and – mentally and physically – a lot healthier. I hate making excuses but alcoholism runs in the family. My father was a severe alcoholic, as was my grandfather and other members of my family.
“I came out determined to create balance in my life – a balance that wasn’t there beforehand. I am pleased to say that because of the programme and the help and support of friends and colleagues, I have continued to avoid alcohol.”
For the last two years, Kelly has failed to find work and has been struggling to live on his Dublin City Council stipend of a meagre €16,000 per annum. Inevitably, he has run up mounting debts.
“In all senses, this scandal hit me at the wrong time. I had left the ordinary world of work to focus on politics. To make ends meet, I planned to do a bit of freelance consulting – and I had a couple of potential clients – but it was all knocked back completely. It lead to a situation where debts and legal bills had built up and they will have to be paid some day. You can’t help thinking after each letter of rejection for a job that it’s a case of, ‘We can’t have Liam Kelly working for us – controversy!’”
Over the past two years, Kelly has often thought of emigrating.
“I lived in Australia for three years and thought about going back there. I often thought, ‘This isn’t worth it. I’ll sell my house and give up politics – feck the lot of them – and move back to Australia!’ “
Kelly is facing huge debts and, if he doesn’t secure employment soon, could be faced with the daunting prospect of having to sell his home. Kelly says his bad debts are the main reason why he won’t contest next year’s local elections – he simply can’t afford to fund an election campaign. Kelly, who has a BA and MA from UCD, is still fearful that this controversy will hinder his prospects of finding a job in Ireland.
“I want to remain here,” he says. “This is where my family and friends are. I had no charges against me. I’m not a suspect from the point of view of the Gardai or the State. I have to rebuild from a personal and career point of view. I’m entitled to fairness. I’m entitled to closure.”