50 councillors to give evidence

Almost 50 county councillors are to give evidence in the planning tribunal's largest investigation to date into alleged corruption in Dublin, starting today.

The Cherrywood module, which is likely to last at least eight weeks, will hear allegations that councillors received political contributions from a company involved in a controversial rezoning in the Carrickmines Valley. Lobbyist Frank Dunlop will also claim he bribed two councillors to secure the rezoning of Monarch Properties' land for housing and industry in the early 1990s.

The change, which was fiercely contested by local residents, was regarded as the most controversial rezoning, aafter Quarryvale, to go through Dublin County Council. Concern over this rezoning prompted a local barrister, Michael Smith, and a colleague, Colm MacEochaidh, to offer a £10,000 reward for information on alleged planning corruption. This initiative led indirectly to the setting up of the tribunal.

Monarch has told the tribunal it lobbied virtually every member of the council and made political donations to more than half its 78 members. The politicians are expected to say the contributions were for election expenses and did not influence their vote.

Mr Dunlop says he was paid £25,000 for his work on behalf of the company. He alleges he paid £2,000 each to Fianna Fáil councillors Tony Fox and Colm McGrath to support the rezoning motion. The two men deny this claim.