Former government press secretary Mr Frank Dunlop gave his most frank admission yet of his involvement in corruption when he admitted at the Flood tribunal yesterday to having been involved in corrupt practices. "I accept, however difficult personally, morally and ethically it is to do so, I accept . . . that I was involved in corrupt practices," he said.
He was responding to a statement to the tribunal by former Fine Gael senator Mr Liam Cosgrave, in which he described Mr Dunlop as dishonest and greedy and a corrupting influence.
He alleged Mr Dunlop had "trousered" £175,000 in a single transaction in 1991 to evade income tax and VAT. He claimed Mr Dunlop had "contrived a sophisticated plan through a sham company staffed by an offshore director for the purpose of hiding this transaction and keeping out prying eyes".
Counsel for the tribunal, Mr John Gallagher SC, asked Mr Dunlop what had he to say to this. "What is one expected to say, Mr Gallagher? I reject the totality of what Mr Cosgrave says," he said.
However, Mr Dunlop said he did accept he was involved in corrupt practices but "corruption . . . takes two" and Mr Cosgrave was one of the two. He claimed to have given him £7,000 in bribes in 1992. Mr Cosgrave has said all monies he received were bone fide election donations and that his vote was never bought by anyone.