Dunlop tells of £62,500 from property developers

Mahon tribunal:The lobbyist Frank Dunlop has said he was given £62,500 by property developers behind the City West business park in Dublin, a portion of which he used to make corrupt payments to politicians.

Mr Dunlop told the tribunal that he created fake invoices to cover the money, which came from Davy Hickey Properties Ltd, or its directors.

Mr Dunlop said he asked Brendan Hickey for £20,000 in June 1991 and £10,000 in January 1992 in order to make "political donations" in respect of the local and general elections in those years.

The elections were used as a "subterfuge", Mr Dunlop said, to allow him to make payments to politicians who had voted in favour of the City West development - even though it contravened the county development plan - and disguise them as legitimate political donations.

Mr Hickey never asked how the money was spent and Mr Dunlop did not tell him about any specific payments made to politicians for any particular events.

"Monies would be demanded of me as election contributions, whether they were given specifically in relation to any specific element, that never arose in relation to my conversation with Brendan Hickey."

Mr Dunlop received a further £10,000 from Mr Hickey in November, which he told Mr Hickey was for expenses.

However, he subsequently sent invoices to Mr Hickey in relation to actual expenses. This £10,000 was also used to pay politicians, Mr Dunlop said.

Mr Hickey did not at any stage ask why he was being sent bills for expenses when he had already paid out £10,000 and did not ask how this money was actually spent, Mr Dunlop said.

The words "inducement" or "bribe" were never used, Mr Dunlop said.

However, he said: "Mr Hickey was not giving me money so I could go on a trip to the Bahamas or go down to Brown Thomas and buy a fur coat."

A payment of £2,500 was made to Mr Dunlop in August 1992 from Davy Hickey Properties.

Mr Dunlop said this may have been given to the late Liam Lawlor, but he had no recollection of Mr Hickey or his partner David Shubotham asking to give money to Mr Lawlor.

Mr Shubotham paid Mr Dunlop £20,000 in March 1993.