Two did not tell FF inquiry about donations

Mahon tribunalTwo Fianna Fáil politicians have said they did not tell an internal party inquiry of more than £7,000 which they received between them from development company Monarch Properties, the Mahon tribunal has heard.

Fianna Fáil TD GV Wright said he had not told the party inquiry of £2,800 received from Monarch in the 1990s.

Former Fianna Fáil councillor Ned Ryan admitted yesterday that he had not told the party inquiry in 2000 of more than £4,000 he had received from the company. He said a declaration he had given to the inquiry, that he had never received more than £500 from developers, was incorrect.

Mr Wright, who was Fianna Fáil whip on Dublin County Council between 1991 and 1993, said he had not told the party about a £300 donation from Monarch in June 1991, a £2,000 donation in December 1992 and a further £500 in 1999. He said the party had not contacted him about the omissions in his declaration.

The tribunal also heard yesterday of a £1,000 donation to Mr Wright by Monarch in 1992 (which was declared to the party inquiry) and a contribution of £1,000 to a Fianna Fáil fund-raiser in Dublin North in 1997 which was sent to him in 1997.

Pat Quinn SC, for the tribunal, said Monarch would say that donations made in 1991 and 1992 had been on foot of requests. Mr Wright denied this.

The tribunal is currently investigating how land owned by Monarch at Cherrywood in south Dublin had been zoned for a higher housing density than that owned by others in the area.

Mr Wright denied that as Fianna Fáil whip he was the most influential councillor. He said the job was largely secretarial. Mr Quinn said there had been evidence that a former party whip, Pat Dunne, had organised and shepherded councillors in to vote on certain issues. Mr Wright disputed this and thought the majority of his colleagues would dispute it also.

Mr Ryan accepted that he had received £1,000 from Monarch in June 1991, £2,000 in December 1992, £1,000 in March 1996 and £500 in 1999. He did not recall making a statement to the Fianna Fáil inquiry. His brother had just died and he had not been focused.

He also accepted that he had taken no steps to inform Fianna Fáil subsequently of the payments. It also emerged that Mr Ryan had told the tribunal last February that he did not believe he had received any donations from Monarch but later accepted that he had when presented with evidence from the tribunal.

Fine Gael Senator Sheila Terry, a PD member of the county council in 1991, said she was not sure why the Cherrywood lands had been treated differently. She got a £300 donation from Monarch before her election in 1991.

Former PD councillor Colm Tyndall accepted that he received £300 in June 1991 but he did not recall seeing the cheque. Denis O'Callaghan, a Workers Party councillor in 1991, and Larry Butler of Fianna Fáil said they had received no donations from Monarch, while Liam Creaven of Fianna Fáil said he had no recollection of a £300 donation in June 1991.