Lawlor exit from Dublin Airport wrong, admits chairman

The provision of special arrangements to allow disgraced TD Liam Lawlor exit Dublin Airport through a side door was wrong, the chairman of Aer Rianta conceded this evening.

In a letter to the Minister for Public Enterprise, Mrs O’Rourke, Mr Noel Hanlon set out the sequence of events before Lawlor's exit via a facility "not available in the normal course of events".

In his report, Mr Hanlon said board member Mr Dermot O’Leary had contacted a duty officer to arrange a smooth transit through the airport for Lawlor.

Mr O'Leary had done this "on compassionate grounds for Mr Lawlor’s wife", Mr Hanlon said. Mr O'Leary claimed that Mrs Lawlor was highly distressed ahead of returning to Dublin on a flight from New York, the report added.

Earlier this week Fianna Fáil activist Mr O’Leary was quoted as saying suggestions of his involvement were "complete falsehoods". "I know absolutely nothing about it," he said.

He said there was nothing illegal or untoward done at Dublin Airport on behalf of Lawlor.

The duty manager spoke to the Airport Director who said Lawlor could be facilitated on the basis that he presented to customs and immigration.

When Lawlor arrived from New York in the early hours of December 29th he was allowed to exit the baggage hall through a staff entrance. The customs officer on duty said it was not necessary for the disgraced TD to walk through customs.

Mr Hanlon said a similar facility was available to Garda members returning with prisoners, pop stars and other high-profile people within the State.

Mr Hanlon said the matter would be discussed at the next board meeting and proper procedures would be put in place.

The Minister had promised to make public the results of her request for an inquiry into the matter by Aer Rianta. A spokeswoman for her office this evening said that the Minister was not expected to make any further comment.

Lawlor and his wife had been visiting their son and daughter-in-law over Christmas. He returned to begin a seven-day jail sentence in Mountjoy which had been deferred by the Supreme Court to facilitate the trip.