CORRUPTION findings against Cascade Coal directors involved in a $100 million mining venture with the Obeid family are set to be overturned in the wake of a High Court decision limiting the Independent Commission Against ­Corruption’s powers.

The ICAC found the directors — Travers Duncan, John Kinghorn, John McGuigan, Richard Poole and John Atkinson — had acted corruptly by concealing the Obeids involvement in a coal tenement.

But the embattled body ­yesterday consented to court ­orders “declaring the corrupt conduct findings against Messrs Duncan, McGuigan, Poole and Atkinson invalid”.

media_camera Disgraced former politician Eddie Obeid.

The watchdog’s decision comes after the High Court ruled ICAC had overstepped the mark in its pursuit of allegations Crown Prosecutor Margaret Cunneen, SC, may have attempted to help a relative evade a random breath test. Ms Cunneen and her ­family deny the allegations.

According to the ruling, only people who collude with public officials to commit corrupt acts can be found corrupt.

A letter from the Crown Solicitor’s Office yesterday to the directors’ said that, in light of that decision, “the commission’s position in the following (corruption) findings made by it ... were beyond (its) power”.

Mr McGuigan said the ­directors would seek to have the corruption finding overturned as soon as possible — and would be asking for the ICAC to cover their legal costs.

media_camera Margaret Cunneen (centre), with her son Stephen Wyllie and his girlfriend Sophia Tilley. Picture: Justin Sanson

“We are seeking to have the matter relisted before the Court of Appeal as a matter of priority, to have the findings declared to be invalid and to obtain appropriate orders as to costs,” he said.

The watchdog has lobbied Premier Mike Baird to make retrospective changes to ICAC legislation, arguing it was the only way to prevent other findings being overturned.

The High Court judgment does not affect corruption findings against former Labor MPs Eddie Obeid and Ian Macdonald as they were public officials at the time of the alleged corruption.

The Cunneen judgment has possible effects for another businessman caught in ICAC proceedings, former Australian Water boss Nick Di Girolamo. Mr Di Girolamo, accused by ICAC of wasting thousands of Sydney Water contract money on limousines and political donations, stands a good chance of escaping sanction.

Originally published as Corruption findings: ICAC troubles Cascade