Dunlop claims #1,000 paid to four councillors

Lobbyist Frank Dunlop has told the tribunal that he paid £1,000 each to four councillors to secure their support for the rezoning of land owned by Christian Brothers at Balheary, near Swords, in north Co Dublin.

In an opening statement at the start of a new module of investigation yesterday, counsel for the tribunal, Henry Murphy SC, said there had been three unsuccessful attempts to have the 70 acres at Balheary rezoned between 1991 and 1995.

He said Mr Dunlop had told the tribunal that he gave £1,000 to the late Cyril Gallagher and Tony Fox of Fianna Fáil, and to Liam Cosgrave and the late Tom Hand of Fine Gael in 1993 in respect of their support for the Balheary rezoning.

Mr Murphy said Mr Gallagher and Mr Hand had died prior to the lobbyist making his allegations. Mr Fox had denied receiving any money.

He said Mr Cosgrave had informed the tribunal that money he received from Mr Dunlop had been for "political purposes only".

"However, the tribunal awaits Mr Cosgrave's specific response to the allegation made by Mr Dunlop in this module," said Mr Murphy.

He said Mr Dunlop had told the tribunal that the Christian Brothers were not aware of the payments made to politicians in respect of the rezoning.

Mr Murphy said the Christian Brothers had entered into an agreement with a developer, Joe Tiernan, in February 1991 regarding the Balheary lands. Under this deal the Tiernan Corporation would seek to have the land rezoned for housing, and would subsequently seek full planning permission.

Once this was secured, the lands would be sold, with the Christian Brothers receiving the first £35,000 per acre and the Tiernan Corporation the next £35,000 per acre. Amounts in excess of this would be divided between them.

The tribunal heard that Mr Dunlop would say that he was engaged by Mr Tiernan to assist in the lobbying of councillors and to provide advice, on request, to the Christian Brothers. He would also say that he had no discussions with Mr Tiernan about payments to councillors

Mr Murphy said Mr Tiernan would say that he was introduced to Mr Dunlop by the late Liam Lawlor in 1989/90 in relation to another project.

Mr Murphy said that the first attempt to have the Balheary lands rezoned failed in early 1991. A second attempt was made in March 1993.

He said that on March 23th, 1993, Mr Dunlop and Mr Tiernan entered into an agreement concerning the Balheary lands as well as a separate property at Mountgorry, also near Swords.

Under the arrangement for the Balheary lands, Mr Dunlop was to receive a minimum of £100,000, with 50 per cent to be paid one year after planning permission was secured and the balance 12 months later. However both men have said that no money was ever paid under this deal.

Mr Murphy said that in May 1993, Dublin County Council voted provisionally to rezone the land.

The tribunal heard that following this vote a senior member of the Christian Brothers wrote to former minister Ray Burke "to express appreciation for the excellent Fianna Fáil support in the council". Mr Burke has said he was opposed to the rezoning.

Mr Murphy said the move to rezone the lands fell when it was considered by the council at a confirmation hearing later in 1993.

He said there was another unsuccessful attempt to rezone the lands in 1995. In 1997 the Christian Brothers told Mr Tiernan that they did not wish to take any further action in relation to having the land rezoned.