The planning tribunal has found it was “inappropriate” for Fine Gael TD Olivia Mitchell to have received a donation of £500 from lobbyist Frank Dunlop in 1992.
Ms Mitchell, then a Dublin councillor, had had meetings with Mr Dunlop and with developer Owen O’Callaghan in relation to the Quarryvale project and was a supporter of the project.
In its final report, the tribunal said the evidence was she did not solicit the contribution around the time of the general election in November 1992 but accepted it in the knowledge of Mr Dunlop’s close association with Quarryvale.
“In all those circumstances it was inappropriate for her to have accepted the cash donation,” it found.
Last night Ms Mitchell said Mr Dunlop was involved with many projects and she never associated the donation with Quarryvale.
“It was one of two contributions I was delighted to get,” she said.
“Knowing my own circumstances, I do not accept the finding. If I knew then what I know now I would not have taken it.”