FF councillor denies bribe claim

Fianna Fáil councillor Tony Fox has denied an allegation by Frank Dunlop that he took a £2,000 bribe to support a major rezoning in south Dublin.

Mr Fox described as completely untrue the allegation made by Mr Dunlop in relation to the rezoning of Monarch Properties' land at Cherrywood in 1993.

Mr Fox told the tribunal yesterday he had no knowledge of Mr Dunlop's involvement with Monarch and had no discussions with the lobbyist about Cherrywood. He never asked for or got money from Mr Dunlop for anything.

He acknowledged receiving a donation of £600 "out of the blue" from Monarch in 1991 and said he solicited a £1,000 donation from the company in 1993 when he was hoping to run for the Seanad. In addition, Monarch made contributions to golf classics of £250 in 1994, £280 in 1996 and £280 in 1997, and Dunloe Ewart, which took over Monarch, made a £500 contribution to him in 1997, the tribunal heard.

At Mr Fox's request, Monarch also made contributions of £250 and £300 to Broadford Rovers soccer club in south Dublin.

The tribunal is investigating the rezoning of Cherrywood in 1993 and claims by Mr Dunlop that he paid £2,000 each to Mr Fox and Colm McGrath to secure the rezoning. Originally Mr Dunlop alleged the people he had paid money to in relation to Cherrywood were councillors Don Lydon and the late Tom Hand.

Mr Fox described as a fabrication a claim by Mr Dunlop that he had anything to do with the writing of a 1993 motion to move the line of the proposed south-east motorway near Cherrywood. The change proposed by Mr Fox, which did not go through, would have allowed greater residential development on Monarch's land.

Yesterday, Breffni Gordon, barrister, for Mr Fox, said a person would be forgiven for thinking Mr Dunlop was hallucinating given the number of mistakes and wild inconsistencies he had made. He said Mr Dunlop was enormously arrogant, took cheap shots and didn't even have the demeanour or the hallmark of a witness telling the truth.

Responding to this cross-examination, Mr Dunlop said these were ungracious remarks. His relationship with Mr Fox had been "egregious in the extreme".

Judge Alan Mahon said the issue of demeanour was important and he added that it was of great significance for the tribunal that Mr Dunlop had not just added names to the list of councillors whom he gave money to, but had substituted names on this list.

Mr Gordon said the witness, in changing the names of the people whom he allegedly bribed, was now telling a completely different story.

Mr Dunlop admitted that he got it wrong when first interviewed by tribunal lawyers in private session in 2000. He then obtained further documentation about the development plan and was able to give a more detailed explanation.

Mr Gordon accused him of taking every opportunity to "lay off" money on Mr Fox. He was "pouring the petrol and waiting for a match to light".

Mr Dunlop denied the allegation. He said Mr Fox had supported the Monarch rezoning and was anxious to do everything possible to support it.

He was unable to say where and when he met Mr Fox, but it was after Monarch engaged him in March 1993.