Former lobbyist Mr Frank Dunlop stated yesterday he would not retract, amend or vary his evidence that he paid Cllr Seán Gilbride £1,000 as an inducement to vote in favour of a rezoning motion.
Mr John Gallagher SC, for the tribunal, said Mr Gilbride (FF) in a statement to the tribunal strenuously denied that Mr Dunlop paid him any monies for his support in relation to Carrickmines or any other lands.
Mr Dunlop, however, stood by his evidence that on June 11th, 1992, he handed Mr Gilbride £1,000 in cash.
The motion before Dublin County Council was for the rezoning of 108 acres owned by developers Paisley Park Investment Ltd to provide high-quality job creation. The vote on June 12th, 1992, was lost in the end.
Mr Dunlop said prior to paying Mr Gilbride the money, he would have lobbied him as he would have other councillors. Mr Gilbride agreed to provide the support and asked for the money.
"The payment to Mr Gilbride was for his support for the motion being put forward at Dublin County Council the following day. It was an inducement," Mr Dunlop said.
Mr Gallagher asked if it was paid by him and accepted by Mr Gilbride as an inducement.
"Correct," Mr Dunlop said.
Mr Gallagher said in the light of Mr Gilbride's denial in his tribunal statement about receiving £1,000 would Mr Dunlop like to amend his evidence.
"I neither retract, amend or vary it," he said.
Mr Gallagher said Mr Gilbride confirmed he received £2,000 from him prior to the local elections in June 1991 as a contribution to his election expenses. Was that a bone fide election contribution?
"It was not a legitimate political payment," Mr Dunlop said.
Mr Gallagher said Mr Gilbride had further said that he received the £2,000 in cash and asked him to sign a receipt.
Mr Dunlop said there was no such request and no such signature.
Mr Gallagher said Mr Gilbride said he never received £1,000 for support in rezoning but Mr Dunlop said it had been an inducement.
"Yes," Mr Dunlop said.
Mr Gallagher then asked: "Do you say it was the same word as was used yesterday?"
Mr Dunlop replied: "Yes, they are interchangeable."
This was taken to be a reference to the word bribe used in the previous day's hearing.
Mr Gallagher said Mr Gilbride said he would have voted in favour of a motion if Fianna Fáil councillors in a particular area were in favour. He said that was the only reason he voted in favour of the rezoning.
"I disagree," Mr Dunlop said.
Asked again about the £2,000 which Mr Gilbride said was towards election expenses, Mr Dunlop reiterated that he disagreed. Mr Gallagher said Mr Gilbride said he had no dealings with Mr Dunlop or any agent except for the £2,000. Mr Dunlop said that was untrue.