Taoiseach's aide faces recall over conflict of evidence

Mahon tribunal: Land agent Tim Collins may be recalled to the tribunal over apparent contradictions in his evidence to the inquiry.

Mr Collins, a friend of the Taoiseach and a trustee of his constituency organisation, agreed yesterday to give the tribunal access to his bank accounts in an effort to reconcile conflicting aspects of his evidence.

Judge Alan Mahon said he thought the witness would have been able to provide a more accurate account of his involvement in companies than he had. Mr Collins might have to be recalled to clear up these matters, the chairman said.

Mr Collins described as incorrect a claim by lobbyist Frank Dunlop that he knew money would have to be paid to councillors to secure the rezoning of land at Kinsealy, in north Co Dublin, in 1993. The tribunal yesterday resumed hearings into the rezoning of this land, owned by Paul Walls.

Mr Collins told the tribunal he worked as a marketing director for the Pilgrim Group, a small architectural practice incorporated in 1987. Pilgrim drew up plans for housing on the Kinsealy lands. Mr Collins said he then went on to work as a consultant for Ambrose Kelly's architectural practice. Mr Kelly advised him to set up a company, Collins Consultancy Services, to receive his fees of about £1,200 a month. He had no other source of income.

Henry Murphy SC, for the tribunal, pointed out that Collins Consultancy Services was set up in 1991, whereas it appeared that Mr Collins did not go to work for Mr Kelly until the end of 1992.

Mr Murphy said it wasn't therefore possible for Mr Kelly to have advised Mr Collins to set up his company as it was already in existence. "I can't answer that," Mr Collins replied.

Patrick Reynolds, barrister, for Mr Collins, said it would be unfair to jump to conclusions until the company and financial records had been examined.

Mr Collins agreed he probably introduced Mr Dunlop to Mr Walls. He denied being present at a meeting with the two other men. He agreed that he had approached businessman Des Richardson to invest in Pilgrim Group and become a director. However, he couldn't recollect how much Mr Richardson had put in, or when he resigned from the company. The only councillor he knew was GV Wright, of Fianna Fáil, he said.

Mr Collins said Mr Dunlop's allegations had greatly upset his family. He wouldn't dream of paying money to councillors to get land rezoned and he didn't think it was right.

Earlier, Grainne Mallon, a planning consultant engaged to work on the development of the Walls land, said she had no recollection of meeting county councillors in relation to the project. While Mr Walls may have asked her to talk to Cllr Wright about the views of other councillors, she had no recollection of doing this.

Mr Dunlop alleges he paid a former Fianna Fáil county councillor Seán Gilbride £1,000 in 1993 in a failed attempt to rezone the Walls land. He claims Mr Walls and Mr Collins were aware that money would have to be paid to councillors for their support.

Mr Walls and Mr Collins deny the allegation, while Mr Gilbride says that any payments he got from Mr Dunlop were political contributions.