Walsh to File Suit

Indicted City Councillor William H. Walsh said yesterday that he plans to sue a former city official who accused him of offering a bribe to ease a police investigation of a Central Square bar.

James T. McDavitt, former chair of the Cambridge Licensing Commission, charged that Walsh approached him in 1990 at a bar in York, Maine and offered him real estate investments, The Boston Globe reported yesterday.

The fourth-term councillor allegedly asked McDavitt not to investigate potential drug dealing at Ken's Pub, which currently faces a 60-day liquor license suspension, according to The Globe.

Massachusetts law prohibits offering municipal officials anything of value.

Walsh--indicted in October on 29 counts of bank fraud and conspiracy--vehemently denied the charges and said he faxed a note yesterday to City Manager Robert W. Healy demanding a full-fledged investigation into McDavitt's accusations.

He also said he will sue McDavitt for slander and libel.

"I never asked any police officers...to dofavors for me," Walsh said.

The councillor said McDavitt made theaccusations out of spite because Walsh had beenhis biggest critic in City Hall.

Walsh said he had continually criticizedMcDavitt for increasing bureaucracy within citygovernment.

"The man is a liar...This is a plain and simplecrackpot." Walsh said the charges could not havebeen true because he was not involved in realestate in 1990.

The councillor also said the last time hefrequented Ken's Pub was in 1975 and that he doesnot know Bennett Aronson, the pub's owner.

The bar, located on Mass. Ave., has faced aslew of charges and controversy over the past fewyears. Police records indicate that one undercoverCambridge police officer was able to purchasecocaine at the pub, even after he had beenrecognized as a police officer, the Globereported.

In addition, a drug raid at the bar in 1991resulted in the arrest of a bartender whopossessed cocaine. Police last raided the bar inJune, after an officer managed to purchase cocainefrom waitress.

An employee at Ken's Pub refused to comment.McDavitt did not return phone calls.

McDavitt resigned as a licensing commissionerlast year after an alleged dispute with Healy overa raise

"I never asked any police officers...to dofavors for me," Walsh said.

The councillor said McDavitt made theaccusations out of spite because Walsh had beenhis biggest critic in City Hall.

Walsh said he had continually criticizedMcDavitt for increasing bureaucracy within citygovernment.

"The man is a liar...This is a plain and simplecrackpot." Walsh said the charges could not havebeen true because he was not involved in realestate in 1990.

The councillor also said the last time hefrequented Ken's Pub was in 1975 and that he doesnot know Bennett Aronson, the pub's owner.

The bar, located on Mass. Ave., has faced aslew of charges and controversy over the past fewyears. Police records indicate that one undercoverCambridge police officer was able to purchasecocaine at the pub, even after he had beenrecognized as a police officer, the Globereported.

In addition, a drug raid at the bar in 1991resulted in the arrest of a bartender whopossessed cocaine. Police last raided the bar inJune, after an officer managed to purchase cocainefrom waitress.

An employee at Ken's Pub refused to comment.McDavitt did not return phone calls.

McDavitt resigned as a licensing commissionerlast year after an alleged dispute with Healy overa raise