Terry Kilrea has "no regrets" in the aftermath of Mayor Larry O'Brien's acquittal from bribery and influence peddling charges this week, and is planning another run for city council next year.
The man whose sworn affidavit sparked an OPP investigation and the eventual charges against O'Brien told CTV Ottawa Friday night that his main concern was that some evidence was misconstrued following his testimony.
"This was not a personal battle," Kilrea said. "My concern was to be a witness, tell the truth, and do my duty to the system."
O'Brien was found not guilty of two influence peddling charges stemming from allegations he offered to help his rival Kilrea get a job with the National Parole Board in exchange for dropping out of the 2006 mayoral race.
On Wednesday, Justice Douglas Cunningham concluded there was no evidence that O'Brien had the influence to offer Kilrea a job with the parole board.
While the judge said he suspects O'Brien may have pretended to have influence, that conclusion could not be reached beyond a reasonable doubt.
Kilrea, who testified for seven days and was repeatedly challenged by defence lawyer Michael Edelson, said he objected to being characterized as a media manipulator and professed no worry about his credibility being affected by the trial's outcome.
"I have very thick skin," he said. "It rolls off me like water off a duck."
Kilrea added he will likely run for the Bay Ward council seat in 2010, currently held by longtime incumbent Alex Cullen.
Judgment sided with O'Brien's version of events
O'Brien admitted he had a meeting with Kilrea in July 2006. He said he hoped to convince Kilrea to drop out of the mayor's race because he felt they were both targeting the same voters, and feared they would split the right-of-centre vote.
Although the two agree they discussed the race, they do not agree on the details of those discussions.
Kilrea testified that O'Brien told him John Baird, who was then-president of the Treasury Board, was the one who could help him with a federal appointment.
Kilrea alleged O'Brien later told him he had spoken to a high-ranking member of the Conservative Party, and Kilrea's name was "in the queue" for an appointment to the National Parole Board.
Although O'Brien said he contacted longtime Conservative and personal friend John Reynolds to seek advice following the meeting, he told police he was advised to stay clear of the matter.
Cunningham said encouraging Kilrea to see Baird, does not make O'Brien a criminal.
"In my view, by encouraging Mr. Kilrea to meet with Mr. Baird provides more support for Mr. O'Brien's contention that, following Mr. Reynolds' advice, Mr. Kilrea would have to pursue his dream on his own," Cunningham said.
Kilrea eventually dropped out of the mayor's race, citing money problems. He never got a federal appointment.
