Dunlop claim of bribing Cosgrave disputed

Lawyers for the Flood tribunal have disputed a claim by Mr Frank Dunlop that he paid former Fine Gael Senator Liam T. Cosgrave £5,000 outside a funeral in Co Dublin in 1992.

Mr Dunlop claims he handed the cash over in a large envelop "on the sidewalk" a few hundred yards from the Catholic church on Newtownpark Avenue, Blackrock on November 11th, 1992.

The lobbyist said he didn't know whose funeral it was, speculating that it might have been a removal.

However, Mr Frank Gallagher, SC for the tribunal, said his investigation showed that no funeral or removal had taken place at the church that day, and questioned Mr Dunlop as to whether or not the meeting ever took place.

"I have a vivid recollection of that meeting," Mr Dunlop insisted. "I gave him the money and he said 'I must put this in the car before I go to the funeral'".

He said the funeral could have taken place elsewhere.

Mr Dunlop said Mr Cosgrave had asked him for the money prior to the General Election in 1992. He said he agreed to the payment after securing the councillor's support for a rezoning motion that was separate to the current Carrickmines Valley land being investigated by the tribunal.

"He undertook to support another development which was described and named and asked me to tell the promoter of the particular development that he was onside and would support it", said Mr Dunlop.

Mr Gallagher said Mr Cosgrave "emphatically denies" receiving any improper payment.