Businessman denies Dunlop payments claim

Leading businessman Joe Moran has denied a claim by lobbyist Frank Dunlop that he knew money would have to be paid to county councillors to secure the rezoning of land in north Dublin.

Mr Moran, the chairman of IFG financial services group and household products firm IWG, authorised payments totalling over £27,000 to Mr Dunlop, who was engaged to lobby for the rezoning of the lands at Lissenhall, near Swords.

However, Mr Moran, who also owns housebuilders Manor Park Homes, has rejected Mr Dunlop's claim that the money was given "in the full knowledge" that councillors would have to be paid.

The inquiry began hearings yesterday into the rezoning of the Lissenhall land in May 1993, and in particular into Mr Dunlop's claim that he bribed three councillors to change the zoning from agriculture and amenity to industry.

Mr Dunlop also alleges he paid Tim Collins, a land scout, £2,000 for introducing him to the owners of the land, Rayband Ltd, Patricia Dillon SC, for the tribunal, said in an opening statement.

Rayband was largely owned by Joe Moran and other members of his family, while Michael Hughes held a 10 per cent stake.

In the late 1980s, Rayband tried to build houses on the land, which would have required councillors to vote through a material contravention of the county plan. This attempt failed after local kennel-owners complained that housing would be incompatible with their business.

Ms Dillon said that in 1989, Joe Moran met former minister Ray Burke in the Burlington Hotel, after which he decided to seek industrial rezoning rather than housing.

In late 1992, Mr Dunlop met Mr Collins, Mr Hughes and Colm Moran about the planned rezoning. The lobbyist says he told those present councillors would have to be paid, though he did not name names. Those present and Joe Moran have told the tribunal they have no knowledge of any financial arrangements as claimed by Mr Dunlop in relation to the rezoning.

Mr Dunlop first told the tribunal five years ago he got not less than £5,000 for the project, but the tribunal has since discovered he was paid a total of £27,625. This money was paid by IFG Securities and authorised by Joe Moran.

Mr Dunlop alleges he paid £1,000 each to Fianna Fáil councillor Cyril Gallagher, who signed the rezoning motion, and Tony Fox, and Fine Gael's Tom Hand. Mr Fox denies the allegation while Mr Gallagher, before his death in 2000, denied any knowledge of improper payments. Mr Hand died in 1996.

Cross-examining Mr Dunlop, Ms Dillon pointed out that the witness had made no mention of Lissenhall when he first listed the payments he had made for the tribunal. He had also grossly underestimated his fees from Rayband.

How could he be so sure about the payments he made to councillors when he was so inaccurate about his fees? Mr Dunlop said that on virtually every occasion he approached Mr Fox or Mr Hand, they asked for money. He agreed there wasn't a shred of paper to back up his evidence about the payments and that he was relying solely on his memory.

He disputed Mr Collins's claim that he had no direct business or personal relationship with the lobbyist. The two men were involved in several land deals together and in one six-month period in 1993 alone, Mr Collins had rung him 62 times, Mr Dunlop pointed out.