Liam Lawlor TD statement after meeting the Fianna Fail Committee, addressing the recent evidence given by Mr Frank Dunlop to the Flood tribunal
I welcomed the opportunity to meet with the Fianna Fail Committee chaired by Dr. Rory O'Hanlon T.D.
Quarryvale
I provided the committee with a comprehensive report on my recollections of the years and months In advance of the decision taken on the 16th May 1991. This was when the then Dublin County Council, of which I was a member, voted to put on public display for three months, the retail zoning on the Quarryvale lands, to allow all Interested parties make written submissions to the Council for consideration.
It may be recalled that there were two Town Centres urgently needed one at Ciondalkin/Lucan and the other at Blanchardstown, both in my Constituency of Dublin West It would be noted from the attached documentation that extensive efforts were made to reach - what might not have been the ideal but an intelligent solution to the Town Centres Issue.
Regarding financial contribution from Mr Frank Dunlop, I provide a copy of the detailed document and an exchange of solicitors letters with the parties concerned, highlighting the political contributions I received.
I attach a list of elections which have occurred since entering public life.
When I was first elected to Dail Eireann In 1977, the then annual salary was £6000. As managing director of a group of companies my then salary was £16500. I resigned my executive responsibilities Much has been written about my home. I would like to put it on the record that I purchased my home and surrounding lands in 1973. four yearn before entering Dail Eireann. I like any other young couple, our home. was purchased with a large mortgage.
1983 Development Plan
Regarding the lands around my home - When 23 acres out of a total of 150 acres were rezoned. In the 1980s review of the Development Plan, a major political furors developed and the decision was rescinded.
1999 Development Plan
To avoid a second Lawlor/Lucan land controversy, I disposed of the 23 acres for under £500,000, prior to the recent South Dublin County Development Plan Review.
In that recent review of the South Dublin Development Plan, with supreme irony, the same 150 acres, with an additional 350 acres totalling 500 acres was recommended for re-zoning by the same Planning Officer and staff. The estimated market value for these lands is £8/10 million. So much for supposedly being In public life and making financial gains.
The recent Bacon Commission Reports highlights this 500 acres as one of the major strategic solutions to the scandalous housing crisis that been allowed to develop, with young couples In Lucan and virtually everywhere else in the country paying between £20/40,000 more than they should for basic housing.
I also want to put It on the record that I never sought, nor was in receipt of any monies that ever influenced any of my decisions In public life at local or national level.
I hope the other political parties can live up to the high standards expected in this regard. It might be productive if other parties undertook the same detailed scrutinising of the actions of their elected members at local and national levels to ensure that public confidence can be restored to the body politic in this country.
Appreciating the intense media interest in these matters, I have put this statement and the attached documentation In the public domain to address some of the many inaccuracies that have been written in this matter.
Briefing Note to Fianna Fail Committee Re:Quarryvale & Any Other Matters
The following are points that arise, when considering the Quarryvale issue and it has to be taken in the context of the Clondalkin/Lucan and Blanchardstown new Satellite towns which were both in my Constituency.
Background
Myles Wright Report late 1960s. Recommended 4 satellite towns - Clondalkin, Lucan, Blanchardstown and Tallaght.
City/County Management over ruled the recommendations and instructed the planners to make a major change and attempt to create one Satellite Town out of Clondalkin/Lucan.
Prior to that, Dublin Corporation bought up in the regions of 600 acres in North Clondalkin between the Villages of Clondalkin and Lucan, with the intentions of tackling the very serious housing crisis in the city. There was in excess of 10,000 families living in over crowded conditions in the Dublin Corporation area.
Many would suggest this plan was flawed from the beginning and the origins of the Quarryvale issue arises as a result.
As the population of Tallaght approached 70,000 and because of the general economic difficulties of the time, the then Government gave tax designation status, which we all know was introduced for inner city and town renewal had to contravene its intentions and give a greenfield site in Tallaght tax designation due to the lack of commercial and community and related facilities for that population.
Clondalkin/Lucan
North Clondalkin, with over 5,000 Dublin Corporation houses constructed-population reaching over 20,000 descended into the most deprived and socially excluded area in the country.
I was elected to the Dail in 1977 - In 1979 I requested and met with the Manager Mr Frank Feely and his two assistants Mr Patrick Morrissey, Housing Co-ordinator and Mr John Prendergast, Planning Manager, to highlight the serious deterioration for the communities living in North Clondalkin.
The infrastructure to make available for development, the officially designated Town Centre site, was non-existent and actually the opening up of the lands by the construction of the Fonthill Road was only completed in 1999, some 22 years after the plan was adopted in 1972.
The attempts to develop the Town Centre were as follows:
PHI Investments owned 30 acres of the Town Centre lands. They did nothing until 1992 when the final decision on Quarryvale was approaching to protest against the Quarryvale proposal.
The other owner of approximately 50 acres was the Dublin Corporation. They disposed of the Town Centre lands to Mr Albert Gubay in the late 198Os. He did nothing with the lands and it was then contracted on to O'Callaghan Properties, who for the first time put in a planning application, even though the roads were unavailable.
In the late 1980s, Mr Tom Gilmartin came on the scene and I will now set out in detail my recollection of my dealings with the Quarryvale project.
Quarryvale
Sometime in 1989/1990 Mr Gilmartin came to my Saturday advice centre in Lucan and outlined his Westpark project, proposing to construct a 1.5 million sq ft centre, designed to be expanded by a further 500,000 sq. Ft. After Mr Gilmartin outlined the scheme, I pointed out to him, that the original Town Centre site would have carried a guideline square footage of 350,000 sq. feet and there was a Department of the Environment directive to Local Authorities limiting the size of shopping and town centres.
Mr Gilmartin did not take kindly to what he perceived was my negative response to a major construction project, as I recall, costing in excess of £750 million. He referred to the job creation and other perceived benefits.
He also went on to state that he had received enthusiastic support from then Ministers McSharry, Reynolds and Flynn. I tried to outline the practical realities to Mr Gilmartin. His attitude was, the bigger the project, the more acceptable it should be. The meeting concluded as Mr Gilmartin was returning to London around lunchtime. He said he would be in further contact as part of his ongoing briefing of various Councillors, Deputies and Ministers. We were both aware that North Clondalkin, in particular, was urgently in need of private sector investment. There was also a major campaign ongoing to get St Kevin's Community College approved. Mr Gilmartin was also very negative and dismissive of the original town centre site.
Quarryvale Presentation
Mr Tom Gilmartin issued the attached invitation to attend a presentation at the Berkeley Court Hotel on the 5th July 1990. My acknowledgment and response are attached. After a Dail vote, I attended part of the presentation which was attended by senior planning and technical staff of the then Dublin County Council and a large number of public representatives, as I think the invitation issued to the full 78 members of the then Council.
This proposal, as per the brochure, was completely at variance with what the planning management and roads engineers would consider.
There was a Belfast team of planning consultants who seemed to have no realism to the type of project that might be acceptable to Dublin County Council planning staff. From a Roads point of view they were showing access and entries Onto a blue signage motorway, which as we know throughout Europe is totally unacceptable. These were the fundamental flaws in Mr Gilmartin's Westpark proposal.
The official Management position was to hope that the original town centre site would eventually be developed.
During that period, O'Callaghan Properties, sought, and I think received a planning approval for 250,000 sq. feet, expandable by a further 250,000 sq. feet.
The general consensus then was that no retailers would sign up to take space in the original town centre site, due to the intentions being pursued by Mr Torn Gilmartin to construct the 15 million sq. feet, which if constructed, would have had a major negative impact on the potential for ever getting the Blanchardstown Town Centre constructed. It would also have had implications for Tallaght and the District Shopping Centres in Clondalkin, Lucan, Palmerstown, North Kildare and the City Centre.
North Clondalkin
North Clondalkin had virtually descended into a no-go-area.
Car stealing, car burning and other disturbances, unfortunately became a regular feature of the area, accumulating in a number of fire tenders being attacked and stoned while in the area trying to deal with stolen and burning cars. The situation was so serious that it ended up in the floor of the Dail, with the then Minister for Justice, Maire Geoghegan Quinn setting up a Task Force to investigate the North Clondalkin area regarding - "URBAN CRIME AND DISORDER".
The Task Force reported on 2nd November 1992 and highlighted a need for a decision regarding the Town Centre.
Page 65 Town Centre
"Provision of a Town Centre as a focal point for the area was mentioned in many submissions put to us. Many people see it as something which has more potential to boost the confidence and community spirit than anything else. Town Centre zoning for Ronanstown has been included in the Dublin County Development Plan for many years, development has not taken place due largely to the operation of market forces in North Clondalkin and the surrounding areas. In response to representations made to us, we urge that every effort be made to get suitable development underway as soon as possible. The advancement of the project, is of course a matter which will depend on private sector investment decisions."
My attempts to represent my constituency were dictated by the two priorities.
(A) Get the parties in North Clondalkin to reconcile what was now emerging as two centres, each frustrating and delaying the other.
(B) To ensure that whatever decision was reached in North Clondalkin, that it did not have an impact on the other part of my constituency in Blanchardstown regarding its Town Centre.
It is worth noting that Dublin West was identified as the fastest growing populated area of Western Europe during the late 1970s. early 1980s and into the 1990s.
Having had a weekly advice centre at the Presbytery at the Neilstown Church every Saturday since the mid 1970s, I saw at first hand, at an individual and community level, the totally unacceptable situation that continued and the constant battle to get schools, community facilities, health centres, arid available treatment for drug addiction which was a serious social problem in the area all highlighted in the Task Force Report.
Town Centre Clondalkin/Lucan
As we approach the end of the 1980s, we appear to:
(A) See no chance of the original Town Centre commencing - (Irish Times article) outlining the planning disaster visited upon the County. The article refers to "1,000 acres of land between the two villages remain undeveloped and the views expressed by Councillors on all sides at yesterdays meeting was that much of this should be as a new green belt. Councillor Eithne Fitzgerald (Labour) proposed the Motion calling for separate plans for Lucan and Clondalkin". The article goes on to refer to the "Dublin Corporation's role in the planning disaster that was North Clondalkin".
The 1988 commencement of the review of the County Development Plan was progressing as we turned into 1990, choices and decisions needed to be reached.
Quarryvale: The general consensus was that the official Town Centre site was not going to be developed. Mr Tom Gilmartin was making the general and individual presentations looking for support for what was referred to in The Irish Independent as "the largest centre ever constructed in Ireland. £750 million project". The article dated Thursday 5th July 1990.
Early in 1991, an on site Traffic Council meeting took place at the grade separated junction between the Naas Rd. and the M50 Motorway with the Council's senior roads engineers After the meeting and as the deadline was approaching for putting in Motions, a discussion took place and my recollection is that Colm McGrath wished to table a Motion. I refused to sign the Motion and strongly recommended that any Motion, to put the maps on public display for three months, if submitted should curtail the acreage substantially less than the 180 acres, to ensure that if a project was going to emerge, it would be of realistic proportions and would not damage the potential at Blanchardstown and comply with the Deptartment of the Environment shopping centre directive.
Blanchardstown Town Centre total acreage 112 acres.
Tallaght Town Centre total acreage 147 acres
Neilstown Town Centre total acreage 119 acres
Quarryvale Town Centre total acreage 106 acres
The Motion was tabled as per Map. No. 27 and the area for shopping carried a D zoning, signifying District rather than Town Centre.
We were now confronted with a situation that the Senior Planning staff were strongly recommending that the original Town Centre would retain the Town Centre zoning. Meanwhile, the Senior Management of both Dublin City and County Councils were negotiating with Mr Tom Gilmartin to dispose of lands to him at Quarryvale, fully in the knowledge of what his plans were, thereby causing a serious conflict at Management and planners levels within the local authorities.
The management, particularly of Dublin City, who had already sold the official Town Centre site, were now selling further lands in North Clondalkin for a project that was going to defeat the planners intentions.
I was in the unique position of being a member of the Council for the North Clondalkin and Lucan area and a Dail Deputy for a wider Dublin West, embracing Blanchardstown.
As the Motion had been tabled, I set about trying to bring realism the debate and the actions that might be taken. As the May 1991 meeting was approaching, there were a number of discussions with Mr John Corcoran and his advisors at Green Properties PLC, the owners of the Blanchardstown Town Centre lands. A crucial meeting took place on the 13th May 1991 in office of the County Council, chaired by the then Chairman, the late Tom Boland. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Motion and it was agreed that in order to protect Blanchardstown's viability, a limit should be put on the size of the Quarryvale Shopping Centre.
Notwithstanding the fact that Green Properties PLC had approvals for 600/700,000 sq. feet at Blanchardstown.
After a lengthy discussion, the meeting concluded and I requested that Mr John Corcoran would write to the Chairman, confirming his acceptance of the consensus at the conclusion of the meeting.
Mr Corcoran wrote to the Chairman - letter dated l5th May 1991.
The following is a the text of a copy of the Green Properties PLC letter dated 15th May 1991.
Dear Chairman, I would like to thank you for receiving us on Monday morning last to discuss the question of Lucan/Clondalkin re-zoning. We got a very fair hearing and came away from the meeting happy that reasonableness would prevail.
I now understand that a new motion is being drafted in connection with moving the Neilstown site to the Quarryvale site and I am happy with this.
I will probably see you tomorrow in the Chamber.
With kindest regards,
Yours sincerely,
(Signed) John Corcoran
Full text of Fianna Fail circular re: Blanchardstown Town Centre
THE FACTS ABOUT BLANCHARDSTOWN TOWN CENTRE
The people of the greater Blanchardstown and Castleknock areas have been anxiously awaiting a new Town Centre in Blanchardstown for many years.
Planning permission has been granted on three separate occasions to Green Property pic.
Councillors for Blanchardstown, Mulhuddart. and Castleknock recently sought a vigorous campaign to defend Blanchardstown's right to a town centre.
Your Fianna Fail Councillors insisted that any proposal for a town centre in the Clondalkin/Lucan area be restricted in size.
On the insistence of the Chairman of the County Council, Tom Boland and his colleagues Councillors Ryan. Fahey, and McGennis, a proposal to locate a regional centre at Quarryvale was AMENDED so that it would be in keeping with the planners own strategy of three, independent and viable town centres in West County Dublin, and to meet the wishes of Green Property plc.
Fianna Fail are determined to see the provision of a Town Centre for the people of Blanchardstown and will continue to fight for a Town Centre incorporating shopping, recreation and amenities.
We will continue to press the government to grant special designated status for Blanchardstown similar to Tallaght Green Property plc stated in a recent letter to the Chairman of Dublin County Council: "I now understand that a new motion is being drafted in connection with moving the Neilstown site to the Quarryvale site and I am happy with this."
Yours sincerely,
John Corcoran
We call on Green Property to follow through NOW on their commitment to build the Blanchardstown Town Centre and we look forward to all the people of Blanchardstown enjoying the benefits of their own Centre in the near future.
Councillor Tom Boland (Chairman Dublin County Council) Councillor Ned Ryan Councillor Jim Fahey Councillor Marian McGennis
Quarryvale Vote
I, Liam Lawlor, wish to state categorically that the Green Property letter dated 15th May 1991, where it is obvious a satisfactory compromise had been put forward and on that basis I voted on the following day, 1 6th May 1991, to approve the putting on public display for three months Map No. 27, with the amended Motion to allow consideration by all interested parties - Town Centre developers, Shopping Centre Tenants, Community Groups and a wide range of other interested parties, to make their submissions.
The minutes of the meeting - (No. 29) - reflects the consensus reached at the 13th May 1991 meeting (page 602) - Amendment tabled by Cllrs C. McGrath, T. Hand and F. Hanrahan.
I thought we had reached an intelligent if not ideal conclusion and that is how the decision was taken on the 16 May 1991.
In the lead up to the 16th May 1991 meeting, there was no major campaign, one way or the other regarding the Motion on the agenda. The real issue was finding an accommodation and compromise regarding the Blanchardstown Town Centre issue.
Mr John Corcoran/Green Properties PLC
The ink wasn't dry on the Motion and map when Mr John Corcoran spearheaded a massive campaign in both Blanchardstown and Clondalkin/Lucan, opposing what had been decided. We were now advancing towards the June 27th 1991 Local Elections. There is plenty of literature to highlight the mis-information circulated, for example Green Properties letter dated 5th June 1991, providing misleading information that 180 had been rezoned at Quarryvale, when the truth was that 106 acre were rezoned and the Blanchardstown Town Centre acreage was 112.
The above is the only direct input I had to the Quarryvale decision. I would suggest, with respect, that in my actions in dealing with this most complex problem I acted with the utmost integrity and honesty and relative to this decision, there was never any question that any monies were in anyway involved, from any party. I was endeavouring to see both Town Centres advance, which I took as my responsibility, representing these areas and knowing the tremendous social exclusion there was in North Clondalkin and West Blanchardstown.
The totally destructive and untruthful campaign mounted by Green Properties has been proven to have been totally unnecessary Blanchardstown Town Centre is one of the finest complexes that could be constructed and has been expanded beyond all expectations and appears to be trading very successfully. My membership of the Dublin County Council ceased in June 1991.
It took a full year and a half, running up to the December 1992 Council meeting to eventually make a final decision on the Quarrvale motion. My recollection is that the Council further strengthened the original motion by specifying a capping of 250,000 sq. ft. for inclusion in the Council's Written Statement.
I was not a member of the Dublin County Council that decided on the completion of the Development Plan.
Any suggestions that I, at anytime, canvassed or had any influence with any Councillors shows a complete lack of understanding of the internal party political realities, as four long practising politicians on this Committee, any suggested canvassing of Councillors by a sitting Deputy would be completely non-productive and have the reverse effect.
In conclusion, there is a mountain of detail and material which I have endeavoured to assemble at my office since this matter arose. I tried to rebuild my recollections of that period and I would gladly answer any questions arising from my briefing note to this Committee.
Frank Dunlop Payments
I first met Frank Dunlop in 1975 when he came to work for the Party.
I met him on and off, like other members of the Party, would have known him reasonably well.
Sometime in the 1980s, I assume he left the Public Sector and went to work for Murray Consultants.
He then left Murray Consultants and set up his own communications and public relations company. Frank Dunlop & Associates.
Shortly after setting up his practice, I met him and we had a general discussion and he asked me If I was interested in taking a 25% stake in his company which 1 declined. I did however say I would give him any assistance I could, as I have done throughout my commercial and political life across a whole range of peoples and areas.
I recommended Frank Dunlop to a publicly quoted company of which I was a non-executive director, I think he was interviewed by executives.
I recommended him to an international engineering group.
He accompanied me to Prague where I made introductions for him as he was considering setting up a communications relationship with a local based company.
Over the years I would have made other recommendations and would have had fairly regular contact with Frank Dunlop.
I also recall providing him with copies of Bills and the explanatory notes, which were relevant to clients of his. I specifically recall Bills relating to the Credit Unions and the Shannon Harbour Bill, and other general and publicly available information.
Financial Contributions
While preparing for my Supreme and High Court actions regarding the Flood Tribunal, I had my solicitor write O'Callaghan Properties and Frank Dunlop & Associates solicitors, (copies of letters attached) requesting clarification of any contributions I received from the parties.
Frank Dunlop, on a couple of occasions on the phone, addressed my solicitors letter. My recollection of the telephone discussions with Frank Dunlop are as follows:
I contributed £1,000.00, cheque for a function in Finnstown Hotel, recognising your 10 year service in the Dail, in 1992 for Party activists and friends.
I contributed to your Golf Classic over a number of years.
I paid a print bill, which was less than £500 and I made a number of other £1,000 contributions.
In the June 1991 Local Elections, my recollection of a contribution I received was £4,000. I note from media comments that Frank Dunlop has claimed he made two contributions totalling £8500. I would have issued a standard receipt and acknowledgment and if those two cheques are available, I can obviously address the matter. That was the purpose of my Solicitor writing to Frank Dunlop's solicitor - to clarify the accuracy of the payments to my campaign.
In the November 1992 General Election, I recall Frank Dunlop coming to my office in Lucan on his way home and my recollection is that he gave me a contribution for that campaign of £5,000.00.
I remember Frank Dunlop telephoning me requesting a receipt and a standard acknowledgment receipt would have been posted to his office. They are the electoral contributions I recall having received from Frank Dunlop.
If Frank Dunlop has suggested to the Flood Tribunal that I was supposed to have received £40,000 at his office, I state categorically I never received any such contribution from Frank Dunlop.
In the mid 1990s, I had numerous business discussions with Frank Dunlop and was a registered consultant. Any dealings I had with Frank Dunlop were conducted on a normal commercial basis.
I have provided a very comprehensive submission to the Committee regarding my decision to support the amended Quarryvale Motion to allow the 3 month public display and consultation process to be embarked upon.
My voting record on Dublin County Council is there for scrutiny and I have no difficulty justifying the way I voted on any issue that came before the Council.
I was never offered or requested one penny, not to mind the sizable financial contribution, to influence my vote.
I enclose an exchange of correspondence between my Solicitors and Frank Dunlop's, as follows: -
LIC Shields, Solicitors to Frank Dunlop - Letter dated 12th November 1998
Dear Sir,
We refer to your telephone conversation with Hugh Garvey of this office on the afternoon of the 11th inst.
In order to enable us take our client's instruction we would be obliged if you would indicate your client's requirements in writing.
Once we have received your letter we will discuss the matter with our clients and Counsel.
Yours faithfully,
(Signed) L.K. Shields, Solicitors
Full text - Letter from Brian Delahunt, Solicitors to Liam Lawlor TD to LK Shields Solicitors, regarding the Sunday Business Post article - dated 13th November 1998.
Dear Sirs,
We refer to the above matter and to your letter of the 12th inst.
In this regard, as you may be aware, reference has been made in a Newspaper Report in the Sunday Business Post dated. 11th October, 1998 (copy herewith) concerning alleged claim made by Mr. Thomas Gilmartin concerning the alleged payment to our client of an amount of £50,000.00 in relation to a proposed development at Quarryvale, Co. Dublin which payment was allegedly "handled by Public Relations Consultant and former Fianna Fail Press Officer Frank Dunlop". In these circumstances we would be obliged to receive your clients confirmation that no such alleged payment was made.
We would also be obliged to receive a note of any Political contributions made by your clients to our client.
We look forward to hearing from you in relation to the foregoing on the. earliest possible date.
Yours faithfully,
(Signed) Delahunt Solicitors
Full text - Letter from Brian Delahunt Solicitors to Liam Lawlor TD to LK Shields Solicitors, dated 26th May 1999 which refers to "Dunlop has forcefully denied making any such payment to Lawlor . . ."
Dear Sirs,
We refer to the above matter and to our telephone conversation today.
In this regard, as we mentioned to you, reference has been made a Newspaper Report in the Sunday Business Post dated 11th 1998 (copy herewith) concerning alleged claims made by Thomas Gilmartin concerning the alleged payment to our client an amount of £50,000.00 in relation to a proposed development Quarryvale, Co. Dublin which payment was allegedly by Public Relations Consultant and Former Fianna Fail Officer Frank Dunlop.
We are instructed this alleged payment never occurred and is noted that the aforementioned Newspaper article that, it is stated that " . . Dunlop has forcefully denied making any payment to Lawlor . . .
In these circumstances it is requested that your client furnish formal confirmation of his denial of making any such aforementioned payment in the form of an Affidavit which is intended to be utilised in Judicial Review proceedings presently pending before the High Court (with a return date for Wednesday next 2nd June l999). In these proceedings further party. has already sworn an affidavit (in matters unrelated to your client) which has proven to be of significant assistance in the matter presently before the 'Court.
In view of the short period of time presently available we would be most obliged to hear from you, subsequent to your discussing 'this matter with your Senior Counsel, as a matter of urgency
Yours faithfully,
(Signed) Delahunt Solicitors
Full text - Letter from LK Shields, Solicitors to Frank Dunlop dated 31st May 1999.
Dear Sirs,
We acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 26th inst.
We have written to The Tribunal seeking its guidance and directions with regard to the matter raised in your letter. We will be in further contact with you once we receive the guidance and the directions sought.
Yours faithfully,
(Signed) LK. Shields Solicitors.
I refer to Frank Dunlop's telephone discussions with me, confirming the information he had submitted to The Flood Tribunal. I never received further written reply, despite Frank Dunlop, on a number of occasions, confirming the matter would be formally responded to.
O'Callaghan Properties - Riga Ltd
Copy of letter from Brian Delahunt Solicitors to O'Callaghan Properties Solicitors, Messrs Ronan Daly Jermyn, 12 South Mall, Cork - dated 13th November 1998.
Dear Sirs,
We refer to the above matter and to our telephone conversation with your Mr. Richard Martin yesterday.
In this regard, as you may be aware, reference has been made in a newspaper Report in the Sunday Business Post dated last October, 1998 (copy herewith) concerning alleged claims made by Mr. Thomas Gilmartin concerning the alleged payment to our client of an amount of £50,000.00 in relation to a proposed development at Quarryvale, Co Dublin which payment was allegedly handled by public Relations Consultant and former Fianna Fail Press Officer Frank Dunlop.
"This Newspaper Report further states that Mr Dunlop was employed and paid by Cork based developer Owen O'Callaghan." In these circumstances we would be obliged to receive your clients confirmation that no such alleged payment was made either directly or indirectly by your clients to our client.
We would also be obliged to receive a note of any Political contributions made by your clients to our client.
We look forward to hearing from you in relation to the foregoing on the earliest possible date.
Yours faithfully,
(Signed) Delahunt, Solicitors
Letter from Ronan Daly Jermyn Solicitors for O'Callaghan Properties, confirming that I had received a contribution of £5,000 from the company - dated 17th November 1998.
Dear Sirs,
We refer to your letter of the 13th November 1998.
Our client is a stranger to the matter canvassed in the first part of your letter.
We confirm that Mr. O'Callaghan, through his company Riga Limited made a political contribution in the sum of £5,000 to your client in that Company's financial year which ended on 30th April 1992.
We trust this is the information you require.
You faithfully,
(Signed) Ronan Daly Jermyn