Lawlor accuses tribunal of 'entrapment process'

Former Fianna Fáil TD Mr Liam Lawlor has accused lawyers for the Mahon tribunal of engaging in an "entrapment process".

Former Fianna Fáil TD Mr Liam Lawlor has accused lawyers for the Mahon tribunal of engaging in an "entrapment process".

Mr Lawlor described as "disquieting" and "wholly inappropriate" how the matter of his business affairs in particular his association with the solicitor Mr John Caldwell was being examined at the tribunal.

Clearly exasperated at being questioned repeatedly about the land deals both men had been involved in, Mr Lawlor said: "For God's sake, this is wasting the taxpayers' time and money."

Judge Alan Mahon responded by saying: "You are not allowed to speak like that."

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Judge Mahon said "there was no question of entrapment" in the way the tribunal was proceeding.

The tribunal has established that Mr Lawlor was paid £685,000 by Mr Caldwell for his role in the sale of lands in Lucan and Baldoyle.

The money was placed in one of Mr Lawlor's bank accounts in Liechenstein in the form of a loan agreement to disguise its true source.

This afternoon the tribunal was shown a set of explanation notes written by Mr Caldwell's own solicitor documenting a meeting in which they discussed Mr Lawlor.

Mr Lawlor claimed the notes detailed clearly his relationship with Mr Caldwell and that if it had been shown earlier the tribunal would not have to spend the last three days on the subject.

Judge Mahon decided to adjourn the proceedings in the light what he said was the obvious "exhaustion" of a number of people present.

Eoin Burke-Kennedy

Eoin Burke-Kennedy

Eoin Burke-Kennedy is Economics Correspondent of The Irish Times