Broadcaster changed accounts of rezoning

Public relations expert and television presenter Bill O'Herlihy has given the tribunal two different accounts of his involvement in attempts to rezone Monarch's land at Cherrywood in south Dublin.

Mr O'Herlihy, who was engaged to carry out PR work for the company in 1991/92, told tribunal lawyers in private interview that a Monarch executive, Richard Lynn, said it was not possible to get planning matters through the council unless it was "bought". He said Mr Lynn also confirmed that money had been paid in Monarch's project at Cherrywood.

Tribunal interviews were supposed to remain confidential but following a court case last year the inquiry is required to release details to interested parties.

In the interview, Mr O'Herlihy also says Mr Lynn told him the way the system operated was that one picked a lead councillor in each of the parties. The matter was discussed with these people and an estimation of the amount of money needed to buy the votes was made. The money was then provided to the lead councillors who did everything after that. Mr Lynn mentioned a figure of £100,000.

However, according to Patricia Dillon SC, for the tribunal, when Mr O'Herlihy was asked to provide a statement to the inquiry he omitted this information and stated: "Never once was the question of payment ever mentioned at any meeting I attended".

Mr Lynn denies making any of the alleged remarks.

The founder of Monarch, the late Phil Monahan, told former Fianna Fáil leader Albert Reynolds that Cherrywood would not have been rezoned without the help of his party members on the council, it also emerged.

In a covering letter accompanying a £5,000 election contribution to Mr Reynolds in 1992, Mr Monahan praised the "admirable stance" and "common-sense approach" to development shown by Fianna Fáil. He said his company's plan to start development at Cherrywood was caught in the throes of the review of the county development plan, which was holding up matters.

"We have been greatly assisted by your party members on Dublin County Council, without whom, it is fair to say, we would not have achieved the part-zoning which now obtains on the lands." It was unfortunate that other parties who were against all developments during the review of the plan now appeared to "take the high road" on job creation.