Dunlop names councillors he gave money to

Six Fianna Fáil, two Fine Gael and one other county councillor were paid a total of £25,000 to secure the rezoning of land at Carrickmines in south Dublin, the lobbyist Mr Frank Dunlop will tell the Flood tribunal next month.

The politicians linked by Mr Dunlop to the attempted rezoning of land owned by Paisley Park Investments in 1993 include a current and former member of the Oireachtas. They also include three councillors who are now deceased: Fine Gael's Mr Tom Hand, who Mr Dunlop says received £3,000; Mr Jack Larkin of Fianna Fáil, who is said to have been paid £1,000; and Mr Cyril Gallagher, who allegedly got £1,000.

Mr Colm McGrath, whom Mr Dunlop names as the recipient of £2,000 in connection with the rezoning, said yesterday he was restricted by the tribunal from commenting. Details of the evidence Mr Dunlop will give were carried in yesterday's Sunday Independent. He claims a "nexus" of councillors offered their support for rezoning in return for cash. He didn't "invent" the system, which was in existence before he started acting as a lobbyist.

The fact that many payments were made around election times was a "helpful coincidence" which facilitated the payment of contributions, he says. The names of others identified by Mr Dunlop may be revealed on Wednesday, when they seek legal representation at a hearing of the tribunal. None of the politicians involved accepts there was anything improper in his dealings with the former lobbyist and government press officer.

Mr McGrath said he would not be seeking legal representation, but would appear as a witness if and when asked to. He had made a statement and co-operated fully with the tribunal.

The largest recipient named by Mr Dunlop, who is alleged to have received £5,000, declined to comment last night. The others on the list did not respond to messages left for them.

Full hearings into the rezoning of the Carrickmines lands will begin next month. At a later stage, Mr Dunlop is expected to name further politicians as the recipients of payments in connection with a second attempt to rezone the lands in 1997/98.

The rezoning of the Paisley Park lands was proposed by Councillors Don Lydon and Tom Hand in July 1993. Planners advised against rezoning, saying the lands had poor access and were not suitable for investment. It was defeated by 26 votes to 24.

According to Mr Dunlop, two female county councillors approached him before the vote. Both said they wished to support the rezoning but they wanted to know whether Mr Liam Lawlor was involved. Mr Dunlop says he told the councillors he was dealing with a solicitor and they later voted for the rezoning motion.

The two councillors have told the tribunal they did not raise the Lawlor issue with Mr Dunlop and one councillor has pointed out that she voted against the motion.

Councillor Pat Hand, son of Tom Hand, said last night the tribunal had told him nothing about the forthcoming allegations concerning his father.

"They haven't told us anything about Paisley Park. I think they should have - definitely. We're in limbo-land here."

Mr Hand said his father hadn't been very wealthy. "He was a just, hard-working man who gave his life for local politics."

The allegations which had been made about his father had had a damaging psychological effect on the family, especially on his mother, who is 88 years old, he said.