Dunlop tells Flood of Lawlor rezoning claims

Mr Frank Dunlop has told the Flood tribunal that Liam Lawlor was the first person to tell him Dublin county councillors would have to be paid to have lands rezoned.

He was continuing his evidence to the tribunal alleging a system operating within Dublin County Council in the 1990s whereby councillors were regularly paid for their support of planning motions.

The former government press secretary said he worked with Mr Lawlor in 1991 to secure the rezoning of lands in Carrickmines, owned by Paisley Park Investments.

He claimed that he had been told in 1991 by Mr Jim Kennedy, who co-owned the 108 acres of land with Mr John Caldwell, that Mr Lawlor had an interest in the property.

Mr Dunlop alleged that Mr Lawlor told him to do "whatever was necessary" to ensure councillors supported motions approving the the rezoning of the holding. Over of a number of meetings in the Dáil, various hotels and their respective offices, the two men discussed their strategy for having lands rezoned, he said.

Mr Dunlop claims there was an understanding between himself and the former West Dublin TD that his role was to "go out there, promise them what they wanted and give them what they were after". What the councillors wanted was money, Mr Dunlop said.