Cosgrave's lawyers accuse Flood tribunal of bias

Lawyers for the former Fine Gael senator Mr Liam Cosgrave have accused the Flood Tribunal of acting unfairly and with bias in its treatment of their client.

Mr Cosgrave's legal team claimed this morning the tribunal was more focused on evidence which supported the former lobbyist Mr Frank Dunlop's allegations and undermined the councillors at the centre of those allegations.

In a six-page letter read into the record of the tribunal by Mr David Burke, Mr Cosgrave argued that there was "a disturbing pattern" in the schedule of witnesses called by the tribunal to give evidence.

Mr Cosgrave, who is due in the witness box later today, is one of nine councilllors Mr Dunlop has accused of accepting payoffs in connection with the rezoning of land at Carrickmines, south county Dublin. Mr Cosgrave has denied the claims.

Mr Colm Allen, SC for Mr Dunlop, described the letter as "a pre-emptive strike" on behalf of Mr Cosgrave before the tribunal had been given a chance to hear his evidence.

Mr John Gallgher, SC for tribunal, said the letter was a "thinly-disguised attack on the integrity" of the inquiry in Dublin Castle.

After adjourning to deliberate Mr Cosgrave's submission, Mr Justice Feargus Flood said "the tribunal rejects and strongly resents" the claim that it is more focused on evidence which supported Mr Dunlop's claims.

At the centre of Mr Dunlop's claims is an alleged meeting with Mr Cosgrave on November 11th, 1992 in Blackrock, Co Dublin in which the lobbyist says he gave the politician £5,000. Mr Cosgrave denies the meeting and reportedly telling Mr Dunlop he was on his way to a funeral.

It transpired that a removal did take place in the area on the date in question which seemed initially to vindicate Mr Dunlop's claims. However, Mr Cosgrave claims he did know the deceased and therefore would not have attended the removal.

He says the family of the deceased back up this claim. He also maintains the book of condolence, which does not contain his signature, confirms he did not attend.