Cosgrave Dunlop payments were 'legitimate'

Former Fine Gael senator Mr Liam Cosgrave has denied receiving anything other than "legitimate political donations" from lobbyist Mr Frank Dunlop.

On his second day of evidence in the Flood tribunal, Mr Cosgrave repeated his assertion he never received payments from Mr Dunlop in return for supporting for certain land rezoning motions while a member of Dublin County Council.

Mr Cosgrave has admitted receiving four payments totalling £6,500 between 1992 and 1997 - which he says Mr Dunlop gave him as donations towards various political campaigns.

On one occasion in 1993 prior to the Senate elections, Mr Cosgrave says he received a cheque from Mr Dunlop who said this is a "legitimate political donation".

But when counsel for the tribunal, Mr John Gallagher SC, asked him why someone would stress the word "legitimate", Mr Cosgrave replied "because it was".

On another occasion Mr Cosgrave said Mr Dunlop gave him £2,000 in November 1992 during a lunch in Buswells Hotel. The former senator said Mr Dunlop simply handed him the money saying: "There's a few bob for the campaign".

However, Mr Gallagher asked him did he not find it strange that he was receiving money from a person whom he knew to be a strong Fianna Fáil supporter.

Mr Cosgrave replied he did not, saying he knew Mr Dunlop to attend Fine Gael functions as well as Fianna Fáil ones and on one occasion had voted for former Fine Gael taoiseach Mr John Bruton.

Mr Gallagher then asked Mr Cosgrave why he had told a Fine Gael party committee in 2000 that he had received £3,500 from Mr Dunlop during the 1990s when he now admitted receiving £6,500.

Mr Cosgrave said he had forgotten one payment and underestimated another by £1,500. He said £1,500 was not a lot of money. "Sure you earn that before lunch", he told Mr Gallagher.

To which Mr Gallagher replied he was not a member of the Oireachtas and was not involved in various planning decisions.

Mr Cosgrave complained about the severity of Mr Gallagher's cross-examination saying Mr Dunlop had been "minded like a baby" when giving his evidence.