22 years ago today on 7 October 1997 Ray Burke resigned as a TD & Minister for Foreign Affairs, amid allegations he had received IR£80,000 from a property developer. The allegation led to the setting up of the Flood Planning Tribunal, the report judging Burke to be "corrupt". The 
published Report proved to be an unlikely best seller. In July 2004 Burke pleaded guilty to making false tax returns (not declaring payments from the backers of Century Radio) & was sentenced six months. Despite "doing time" for his conviction he is in receipt of 2 State pensions
one former TD's pension at the maximum rate for 20+ years service & a second as a former minister. That income is worth well over €126,000 a year to him. Meanwhile, the contributory old age pension is worth €12,656.80, less than 1/10 of that. No wonder he might look happy.
