Councillors failed to vote for plan

Three councillors allegedly paid by former Fianna Fáil press secretary Frank Dunlop for their support on the Quarryvale project did not vote for it at a crucial meeting, the tribunal was told yesterday.

Patricia Dillon SC, counsel for the tribunal, highlighted three councillors Mr Dunlop alleged he paid for their support of the Quarryvale project: former Fine Gael cllr Liam Cosgrave was paid £2,000 and former Fianna Fáil cllrs Don Lydon and and GV Wright were paid £1,000 and £2,000 respectively.

However, the three councillors did not vote for Quarryvale at a crucial Dublin County Council meeting on May 16th, 1991.

Ms Dillon asked Mr Dunlop if he had checked the records of the council before telling the tribunal that he made the payments to supportive councillors.

"I don't think I checked it because these names from day one, from the year 2000, are the people that were avid supporters of the Quarryvale project, out of their own mouths," Mr Dunlop replied.

Mr Dunlop also told the tribunal that if the late Liam Lawlor was publicly associated with any project, it would "sound the death knell" for that scheme. Mr Dunlop had told the tribunal that he paid Mr Lawlor £40,000 for his introduction to developers Owen O'Callaghan and Tom Gilmartin. He paid over £100,000 to 13 councillors including Mr Lawlor, he said.

Mr Dunlop said that he canvassed an FF councillor on one occasion and was told that if Mr Lawlor was involved in a project, the councillor would not vote for it. He said he advised Mr O'Callaghan not to be seen publicly with Mr Lawlor and they tried to keep his involvement in the Quarryvale project a secret.