THE FORMER minister, Mr Michael Lowry, asked a Fine Gael colleague to drop his opposition to a Dunnes Stores shopping centre development because of Mr Ben Dunne's contributions to the party, the tribunal is to be told this week.
Further information had come into the possession of the tribunal on Mr Lowry, counsel for the tribunal, Mr Denis McCullough SC, said in his opening remarks yesterday.
He said the Fine Gael TD, Mr Paul McGrath, would give evidence that he was a member of Westmeath County Council at a time when it was considering whether to grant urban renewal status for a Mullingar development. Dunnes Stores would have been an anchor tenant.
Mr McGrath believed the status should not be granted and he made this known at meetings of the council. Mr McGrath would say that in the spring of 1994 he was approached by Mr Lowry, then the Fine Gael party chairman.
Mr Lowry told Mr McGrath he was aware of his opposition to the shopping centre. He indicated that Mr Dunne was "a major contributor to the Fine Gael party" and Mr McGrath should withdraw his opposition.
Mr McGrath would tell the tribunal that he told Mr Lowry "in no uncertain terms" that he would not do so.
Mr McCullough said the tribunal would begin dealing with the matters relating to Mr Lowry, who is also to give evidence this week, tomorrow. These should be completed by Friday.
It also emerged yesterday that Mr Ben Dunne is to be recalled to the witness box. Mr McCullough said this was to deal with matters which had come to light since the adjournment of the tribunal in April, and during the evidence given by Mr Dunne's solicitor, Mr Noel Smyth.
Mr McCullough said that after the issues relating to Mr Lowry had been dealt with, and the evidence of Mr Smyth and Mr Duane completed, it was proposed to consider the banking "and the other evidence relating to the tracking of the payments made by Mr Dunne and the receipt of the monies by Mr. Haughey".