Nick Kavanagh denies charges and was one of 12 defendants who appeared at Preston Crown Court today in connection with Merseyside Police’s Operation Aloft
Former Liverpool City Council director Nick Kavanagh has been accused of accepting bribes in the form of cash and building work at his home and business premises. The 57-year-old, who served as the council’s director of regeneration, appeared before Preston Crown Court today, Friday, accused of one count of bribery and a charge of counselling or procuring misconduct in a public office.
Former Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson was also brought before the Honorary Recorder of Preston Robert Altham this morning charged with bribery and misconduct. The 67-year-old, of the Beechwalk in Knotty Ash, is one of 12 men and women facing alleged offences in connection with Merseyside Police’s Operation Aloft, an investigation into the awarding of commercial and business contracts by Liverpool City Council between 2010 and 2020.
Anderson led the council from 2010 and became the city’s first directly elected mayor in 2012, serving in that position until his arrest in 2020. He has been accused of bribery, misconduct in a public office and conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office.
Others charged include Derek Hatton, the 77-year-old former deputy council leader, and Kavanagh’s 51-year-old ex-assistant director Andrew Barr. Julian and Paul Flanagan, the founders of building contractors the Flanagan Group, also face proceedings, as does Anderson’s son David.
Kavanagh, of Rookery Drive in Mossley Hill, has denied two counts of bribery. Both state that he “requested, agreed to receive or accepted a bribe, financial or other advantage” in order to “perform improperly”, with one charge relating to the dates between March 19 2015 and September 3 2020 and the other concerning November 9 2015 to May 13 2019.
Both Julian Flanagan, aged 53 and of Tithebarn Road in Knowsley Village, and Paul Flanagan, aged 61 and of Ormskirk Road in Knowsley Village, each face a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery. This alleges that they “conspired together to bribe Nick Kavanagh and Philippa Cook” between November 9 2015 and May 13 2019, with both denying the offence.
Cook, aged 49 and also of Rookery Drive, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of bribery. These relate to accusations of “requesting, agreeing to receive or accepting a bribe”, with one charge relating to the period of March 19 2015 to September 3 2020 and the other concerning November 9 2015 to May 13 2019.
McLean, of Acrefield Road in Woolton, faces an allegation of conspiracy to commit bribery, which states that he “conspired with Mark Doyle to bribe Nicholas Kavanagh and Philippa Cook” between March 19, 2015 and September 30, 2020. The 54-year-old has pleaded not guilty to this charge.
Shalliker, of School Lane in Downholland, West Lancashire, also faces a single count of conspiracy to commit bribery. The 38-year-old denies this charge, which similarly alleges that he “conspired with Mark Doyle to bribe Nicholas Kavanagh and Philippa Cook” between March 19 2015 and September 3 2020.
Kavanagh, Cook, the Flanagans, McLean and Shalliker will now face a trial over the course of around three months, beginning on February 23 next year. They were released on unconditional bail until this date.
Further details of the charges faced in relation to their case were heard for the first time today, alleging that Kavanagh and Cook received “cash, the use of storage, vehicles, vehicle parts or building work” at properties at Rookery Drive and at Wow Kids from Shalliker, McLean and Mark Doyle. They are also said to have accepted “building, decoration and or maintenance work” on properties at Rookery Drive and Harley Buildings from Paul Flanagan, Julian Flanagan or the Flanagan Group.
Operation Aloft was launched in 2019 in order to investigate the awarding of development contracts in the city. A number of high profile arrests were made as part of the probe.
This included then sitting Mayor Joe Anderson being held by police in December 2020. He had been seeking a third term in office at this time, but was instead suspended by the Labour Party and stood down from his position.
A council spokesman said at the time of the charges last month: “Liverpool City Council has actively supported this police investigation and will continue to cooperate as required. Since 2020, the council has been transformed under new leadership, including the successful conclusion of a period of government intervention, with significant improvements in governance and performance. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”