Claim of bribe to Cyril Gallagher rejected

Mahon tribunal: Lawyers for the late Fianna Fáil councillor Cyril Gallagher have rejected an allegation that he was bribed by former government press secretary Frank Dunlop.

Thomas Montgomery, solicitor, for Mr Gallagher's estate, said there was not "a scintilla of documentary evidence" to support Mr Dunlop's claim that he gave his client £2,000 to support a development in Swords.

Mr Montgomery said Mr Dunlop was completely wrong; Mr Gallagher had not asked for the money and it was not given. It was Mr Dunlop's word against Mr Gallagher's, and Mr Gallagher was dead.

Mr Dunlop said he rejected this. It was sad that Mr Gallagher was dead. He had attended his funeral. The money he gave Mr Gallagher paled into insignificance in comparison to what others got and he had made far greater allegations against councillors who were still alive.

The tribunal is investigating claims by Mr Dunlop that a landowner, Robert White, paid him £5,000 in the early 1990s to keep certain councillors "onside" for an application to build houses on agricultural land owned by the Duff family.

Mr White acknowledges paying Mr Dunlop £2,500 by cheque for public relations work but denies asking the lobbyist to influence councillors.

Yesterday, it emerged that Mr Dunlop alleges he paid Mr Gallagher a total of £18,000 between 1991 and 1993 in return for his support for various rezonings.

He said Mr Gallagher knew Swords like the back of his hand and had a good idea of what could be done and what could not in planning terms.

Mr Dunlop admitted he was wrong to tell the tribunal six years ago that he had also made a £1,000 payment to Fianna Fail's G.V. Wright in connection with this issue.

He made the allegation during a private interview with tribunal lawyers but later wrote to the inquiry admitting it was "erroneous".

He explained yesterday that he had given money to Mr Wright on other occasions. In total, he had given the TD £12,500. When he made the incorrect statement, he did not have access to relevant documents.

Mr White had told him Mr Wright was totally onside and that he was looking after him. Mr Dunlop said he took this to mean that there was some financial arrangement between Mr White and Mr Wright.

Asked by Martin Kennedy, solicitor, for Mr Wright, if he would apologise for the error, Mr Dunlop said that he would not.