Dunlop tells tribunal he paid GV Wright £2,000

Lobbyist Mr Frank Dunlop told the planning tribunal today he paid Fianna Fáil TD Mr GV Wright £2,000 wrapped in a newspaper in the Dáil bar for his support for a rezoning motion.

The Mahon tribunal heard allegations from Mr Dunlop, a former Government press secretary, that he was paid £12,000 in 1993 by two north Dublin landowners to secure rezoning motions for their land.

Mr Denis Mahony, a car-dealer and Mr Noel Fox, an accountant, were seeking to have their adjoining plots of land at Drumnigh, near Portmarnock, rezoned from agricultural and green-belt use to residential.The rezoning was intended to be part of the 1993 Dublin Development Plan Review.

Ms Patricia Dillon, SC for the tribunal, this morning outlined Mr Dunlop's evidence in her opening statement. She said he claims he used the money from the two landowners to pay four Fianna Fail members of Dublin County Council to support the rezoning.

Mr Dunlop said he was contacted by Mr Fox and Mr Mahony in March 1993. He said they told him they had initially been represented in their efforts to have their lands rezoned by Mr Wright but that he was too busy to help them fully.He claimed Mr Mahony said Mr Wright had recommended him as someone who would be able to help.

Mr Dunlop said he agreed to work for the two men, and agreed a £10,000 fee. In addition to this money, he said he was given an additional £2,000 success fee by Mr Mahony in February 1994.

He said he gave Mr Jack Larkin and Mr Cyril Gallagher £1,000 each and that he gave Mr Sean Gilbride £2,000 in or around Dublin County Council offices for their votes.Mr Dunlop also claims he handed £2,000, wrapped in a newspaper, to Mr Wright in the public bar of Leinster House. He said Mr Wright had specifically asked him for this money in exchange for his vote.

Mr Wright denies ever receiving this payment, but he told a Fianna Fail inquiry in 2000 he got £3,000 from Mr Dunlop in November 1993 as an unsolicited, legitimate political donation.

Mr Fox withdrew his application before the motion was voted on because, according to Mr Dunlop, it was "too controversial". He did not ask for his £5,000 back.

Mr Mahony's lands were eventually rezoned for residential use in April 1993, at a density of 12 houses per hectare.

Despite three subsequent motions put by various councillors to overturn the rezoning, over 2,500 objections from locals and advice from county planners against it, the rezoning was adopted in the revised Dublin Development Plan in December 1993. Council records show all the members that Mr Dunlop claims he paid supported the motion throughout this lengthy process.

The ownership of the lands was transferred to Mr Mahony's daughter following the successful rezoning. The land was eventually sold to property developers in 2000 for £13.5 million.

Both landowners deny any knowledge of bribery. Mr Mahony insists any money he gave to Mr Dunlop was for professional services, while Mr Fox denies ever giving the lobbyist any payment of any nature.