Landowner denies using bribery

Landowner Christopher Jones has denied any knowledge of bribes allegedly paid by lobbyist Frank Dunlop to secure the rezoning of his land.

Mr Jones said Mr Dunlop never told him he would be paying councillors as part of lobbying to get the land at Ballycullen in south Dublin rezoned. He denied Mr Dunlop's claim that he told Mr Jones and the financial controller of the Jones Group, Derry Hussey, that the "ways of the world" would have to apply in his work. Mr Jones said he had never heard this kind of comment from anyone in his life.

However, he acknowledged making political contributions, totalling £45,000, to over 20 politicians in the 1990s. The tribunal is investigating the donations made by Mr Jones and the payments allegedly made by Mr Dunlop as part of the rezoning in 1992.

Mr Hussey also disputed Mr Dunlop's allegations in his evidence yesterday, describing them as nonsense.

Mr Jones said he had engaged Mr Dunlop because he had been told that every member of Dublin County Council would have to be spoken to if the rezoning was to succeed.

Fianna Fáil senator Don Lydon has told the tribunal Mr Jones gave him a £5,000 cheque at the Goat Grill in November 1992. However, Mr Jones said he would have posted the cheque.

He said Mr Lydon seemed very distressed when they met in the pub, as he had decided to go "banker" in politics and give up his full-time job as a psychologist.

Mr Lydon may be recalled for further evidence after it emerged yesterday that he may have received an additional £2,000 from Mr Jones in December 1993.

The witness also rejected a claim by former Fine Gael lord mayor Michael Keating that the two men never met. He said they were neighbours in Co Meath and he vividly recalled going to Mr Keating's house to make a £500 payment.

Mr Jones said he had been trying to get his lands rezoned since the 1980s. Ballycullen could no longer be farmed because of problems with vandalism. Yet he was unsuccessful.

Then Liam Lawlor approached him during a fundraising lunch for Albert Reynolds to say he should team up with a developer if he wanted to get his lands rezoned.

Mr Lawlor introduced him to builder Joe Tiernan and plans for a joint venture were drawn up. However, these never went ahead.

Mr Jones said he gave Mr Lawlor two political donations of £5,000 and also paid him £7,500 for the advice on Ballycullen in 1991 and 1992.