The former CEO of the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board has been charged with multiple offences following an eight-year investigation into alleged corrupt practices.
Seán Ashe, 73, with an address in Aisling, Turnings, Straffan, Co Kildare, was among four men who faced 178 charges between them at Blanchardstown District Court today.
The other men charged were Kieran Downey, 49, with an address at Mountain View in Naas, Co Kildare, Richard Whelan, 41, with an address at Hawkfield, Newbridge, Co Kildare, and Mr Ashe's son John Ashe, 44, with an address at Elsinore, Turnings, Straffan, Co Kildare.
The court heard that the charges are mostly related to allegations of corruption of public office.
All of the men were arrested at different times by members of the Garda National and Economic Crime Bureau at Blanchardstown Garda Station this morning.
Details of their arrests were read out to Judge Aine Clancy, while no objection to bail was made for any of the defendants.
Judge Clancy granted bail to all four men, subject to a number of conditions attached.
Each must sign on at their local garda stations once a week, while they also surrendered their passports and must not leave the jurisdiction without the approval of the court.
They are also not allowed to have contact with each other or any witnesses, with one exception made that Mr Ashe and his son could have contact with each other, but not the other defendants.
The men are scheduled to appear before the courts again on 28 April.
