Cheques cashed for Lawlor

A Dublin publican has told how he cashed up to £270,000 in cheques for the late Liam Lawlor.

But Patrick Murphy, the former owner of Clearys pub in Inchicore, said that he ended the arrangement when Mr Lawlor pursued him for money stolen in a robbery.

Mr Murphy had cashed a £2,500 cheque for Mr Lawlor which was awaiting collection when the robbery occurred. His wife and children were caught up in the traumatic incident. Despite this, Mr Lawlor showed no sympathy and insisted on getting his money. Mr Murphy said: "He made a laugh out of it." He got the money for the politician later and claimed it from his insurance.

Since 1974, he had rented land from Mr Lawlor for his cattle, but their arrangement started after he bought the pub in 1992. If he had cash on hand, he would cash Mr Lawlor's cheques or, for larger cheques, he would give him some cash and write his own cheque for the rest. This meant that the cheques did not go through Mr Lawlor's accounts.

On one occasion, Mr Murphy said, he saw Mr Lawlor forge Frank Dunlop's name on a £10,000 cheque. His accountant estimated that the total amount in cheques cashed for Mr Lawlor was between £238,000 and £270,000.