FORMER GOVERNMENT press secretary Frank Dunlop could face up to seven years in jail and/or a fine of €50,000 if convicted on corruption charges relating to the bribing of Dublin county councillors.
His trial, which is expected to take place in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court next year, and any related proceedings could delay the publication of the final report by the planning tribunal.
Over eight years after he first revealed his involvement in corruption at the tribunal, Mr Dunlop (61), of Dunboyne, Co Meath, was yesterday charged on 16 counts of bribing Dublin county councillors in return for the rezoning of land at Carrickmines, south Dublin.
He indicated his intention to plead guilty at the trial next year by telling the Criminal Assets Bureau officers who charged him: "We always knew this day was coming and I will not be contesting the charges."
At the trial, lawyers for Mr Dunlop are likely to plead for leniency for their client as the only major figure to come before the tribunal and admit involvement in corruption. He also made similar admissions in a statement to Cab five years ago.
A successful conviction may bolster Cab's attempt to secure €53 million from Jackson Way Properties, the company which owns the lands at Carrickmines at the centre of the rezoning controversy. CAB has taken High Court proceedings aimed at securing €53 million from Jackson Way over its alleged "corrupt enrichment" from the lands' rezoning.
These have been delayed by pre-trial proceedings taken by the company, which claims that Cab has no jurisdiction to deal with the matter as Jackson Way is registered in the UK. The High Court's rejection of this argument has been appealed to the Supreme Court.
The question of whether individual councillors could be prosecuted for their alleged involvement in corruption is likely to be left to the Garda Síochána.
Mr Dunlop, who ran a thriving lobbying business until he dramatically changed evidence to the tribunal in 2000, was a central figure at the inquiry, which has now completed its hearings and plans to report next year. It is highly unlikely that any report could be published while criminal proceedings are ongoing.
He was arrested by Cab officers at 12.10pm yesterday, after presenting himself by arrangement at Harcourt Terrace Garda station. Two hours later, he appeared before Judge Cormac Dunne at a five-minute hearing in Court 44 of Dublin District Court.
Det Garda Martin Harrington from the Cab told the court about Mr Dunlop's arrest and detailed the 16 charges against him.
He is accused of bribing eight public representatives, six from Fianna Fáil, including one sitting county councillor, and two from Fine Gael, between 1992 and 1997. It is alleged he paid them from £1,000 to £3,000 to vote in favour of rezoning the land at Carrickmines.
Those named in the charge sheets as having been bribed by Frank Dunlop are former senators Liam Cosgrave of Fine Gael and Don Lydon of Fianna Fáil, Fianna Fáil councillors Tony Fox, Sean Gilbride, Colm McGrath, the late Jack Larkin, the late Cyril Gallagher and Fine Gael's late councillor Tom Hand.
The charge sheets refer to locations at which the money was allegedly handed over, including the Davenport Hotel, Buswells Hotel, Conway's pub, Mr Dunlop's own offices, and in the case of Mr Lydon, St John of God's in Dublin.
Mr Dunlop remained seated with his legs crossed and hands clasped firmly as the details of his arrest were read out.Judge Dunne sent the case forward to the next sitting of the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
He told him that if he intended to rely on alibi evidence he was to inform the prosecution and he remanded Mr Dunlop on bail of his own bond of €100.
The former lobbyist signed the bond, told the judge he understood his obligations and then left the court with his wife Sheila.
