Source of £2.6m lodged in accounts unexplained

The source of £2.6 million lodged into bank accounts in Mr Liam Lawlor's name over a 17year period was unexplained, the tribunal…

The source of £2.6 million lodged into bank accounts in Mr Liam Lawlor's name over a 17year period was unexplained, the tribunal revealed yesterday.

An analysis of 18 bank accounts identified by Mr Lawlor in his affidavit showed that of £4.6 million lodged from 1983 to date over half the amount could not be accounted for, Mr John Gallagher SC, for the tribunal stated.

Making allowance for Dail salary, loans, sale of land and other items, the total of unexplained lodgements to the account was £2,624,000.

Mr Gallagher went through the names of companies with which Mr Lawlor was associated since the 1960s as listed in Mr Lawlor's affidavit.

READ MORE

Mr Lawlor said after 1982 he had received no income from the 10 companies referred to. From then he was dependent on income as a member of the Oireachtas and had an ongoing facility provided by the banks.

Mr Gallagher wondered if there was any other source of income from 1983 to date that might help to explain where the monies came from.

Mr Lawlor said: "I've disclosed to the tribunal every penny or pound I've ever lodged to any bank account. I will endeavour to provide additional information to the tribunal."

Mr Gallagher informed him: "Your net lodgements to the 18 accounts identified in your affidavit of discovery which exclude inter-account transfers appears to be £4,659,000." Mr Lawlor said he would suggest that was not a correct figure.

Mr Gallagher said: "It would appear that your salary and expenses came to approximately £510,000 in that same period, that's your Dail salary and expenses," Mr Gallagher said.

He continued: "Allowance has been made for the sale of your land at Somerton for £410,000. Allowance has been made for what you describe as the Goodman payments yesterday - that's £365,000 to Advanced Proteins Ltd."

Mr Gallagher said: "We've also made allowance for a loan of £600,000 from the Morgan Family Trust, that's the Leichenstein money already referred to."

They also allowed for £38,000 in respect of evidence given that this was the payment from Mr Frank Dunlop; a sum of £20,000 in respect of a consultancy Mr Lawlor had mentioned relating to M & E Rotary Payments; the £74,000 paid to him by National Toll Roads; and a sum of £17,600 between 1995 and 2000 as disclosed in the returns under the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995.

Mr Gallagher concluded: "On that basis, and giving you due allowance for everything you have told us about in relation to the accounts that we have looked at so far and the accounts which you have furnished to the tribunal with your first affidavit, there are unexplained payments of £2,624,400."

Mr Lawlor said he would submit a written detailed explanation next week. The chairman said he wanted the information now.