Lawlor allegedly tried to fix route

Mr Liam Lawlor was involved in an attempt to fix the line of the south-eastern motorway in a manner advantageous to the controversial English company Jackson Way, it has been alleged.

Mr John Gallagher SC, for the tribunal, said that up to 1997 the line of the proposed motorway had not been set. Various lines were shown on the maps produced at the time.

An attempt was made to fix the motorway line in a way that would be most advantageous to Jackson Way and which would facilitate the development or rezoning of the greatest part of its lands at Carrickmines, according to a statement given by Mr Frank Dunlop to the tribunal.

It was recognised that the motorway would almost certainly form a physical barrier, to the south or west of which development would not be permitted because of the proximity of the Dublin mountains.

In May 1992, a motion signed by Cllrs Tony Fox (FF) and Tom Hand (FG) was submitted which sought to fix the line of the motorway. Mr Dunlop said he was involved in discussions leading to the preparation of this motion but Mr James Kennedy, the reclusive businessman, told him Mr Lawlor was responsible for drafting it.

Mr Gallagher said that whatever line the motorway finally took it was certain to go through some part of the Jackson Way lands.

The motion was considered at a special meeting of the council in June 1992 but fell after road engineering recommended that engineering matters should be considered first.

Mr Dunlop said the line taken by the south-eastern motorway, which would cross the Jackson Way lands, was vital. It was important that as much as possible of the company's lands lay on the development side of the motorway when this line was fixed.