Lawlor 'shocked' by Dunlop claims of bribery

Former Fianna Fáil TD, Mr Liam Lawlor has told the Mahon tribunal he was "shocked" at allegations by lobbyist Mr Frank Dunlop that Dublin County Councillors were bribed for their votes in the 1990s.

The former Government press secretary claimed in evidence to the tribunal last December that Mr Lawlor told him there was a "system" operating within the council whereby members would have to be paid off by any developer seeking to secure favourable rezoning motions.

Mr Lawlor said today this was "staggering evidence" and denied it "out of hand". He said he knew elected members received political donations, but that was the extent of it. "I was never aware," he said, "that you could secure somebody's vote by method of payment."

He said it would be "abhorrent" for him to be offered a bribe. In any case, he would never be in such a position, as "about two thirds of people who supported me never owned a blade of grass in Co Dublin." Anyone who tried to bribe Mr Lawlor "would get short shrift".

He said Mr Dunlop was an experienced operator who didn't need to bribe anyone to get their support. He noted the lobbyist had managed to secure the development of the Citywest Business Park without ever paying anyone.

Mr Dunlop claims he was given £25,000 by businessman Mr Jim Kennedy to bribe councillors to support a motion to rezone 108 acres of land in Carrickmines.

The motion was submitted to Dublin County Council in May 1992. It called for the land, owned by Paisley Park Investments, to be rezoned "to provide high-quality job creation use for South County Dublin".

Mr Lawlor conceded today he held discussions with both Mr Dunlop and Mr Kennedy in relation to these lands. However, he denied having any beneficial interest in the lands and his involvement was limited to giving advice, as he was an expert on planning matters.

He also admitted drafting the clause about job creation. He said the council was "incompetent" when it came to such matters. He, on the other hand, possessed the "vision" to bring financial prosperity to the area.

Among those Mr Dunlop claims he paid are Fianna Fáil Senator Don Lydon and the late Fine Gael councillor Mr Tom Hand, who he said received £3,000 each. Mr Dunlop said Mr Lawlor advised him to approach them.

Mr Lawlor rejected this. "No, I wouldn't have been specifically saying you should speak to X or Y."

He was not aware of the allegations Senator Lydon and Mr Hand had accepted bribes. "I would have been amazed that any elected member would get himself in that position," he insisted.