Mahon tribunal: Lobbyist Frank Dunlop yesterday denied that all his evidence on Ballycullen was undermined after he admitted getting dates wrong in his allegations of a payment to a councillor.
Mr Dunlop said he was "taken aback" after he was challenged on his evidence that he paid £1,000 to the late Fianna Fáil councillor Jack Larkin for his vote on rezoning of the Ballycullen lands in south Dublin between October 1st and November 15th, 1992.
Senior counsel Patricia Dillon, for the tribunal, said records had been obtained which showed Mr Larkin had been in hospital from September 9th until November 4th, and in a nursing home from that date until November 18th.
Mr Dunlop said he gave Mr Larkin the money with regard to the Ballycullen rezoning.
"I do not resile one single iota from that," he said.
Ms Dillon said if Mr Larkin was in hospital and a nursing home it established beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was nowhere near the Dublin County Council offices for Mr Dunlop to give him money.
Mr Dunlop said his recollection was that Mr Larkin was in the environs of Dublin County Council after being discharged from some hospital as various councillors wondered what he was doing there.
Ms Dillon said: "You're not seriously suggesting he got out of his hospital bed after triple bypass heart surgery and came in to collect £1,000?"
Mr Dunlop said he was not.
Ms Dillon said it meant he was wrong in the dates.
"I must've been. I must've paid him on another date," he said.
Mr Dunlop said he made a payment to him after the rezoning vote.
"I knew where to meet as he had a seat in a special pub."
Ms Dillon remarked that Mr Larkin had a bed in a special place.
She put it to him: "It undermines the whole of your evidence concerning Ballycullen."
Mr Dunlop replied: "I don't accept the premise that you said the entire evidence about Ballycullen was not credible."
Ms Dillon said he knew Mr Larkin was dead and dead persons could not challenge him.
"You've seized on dead councillors, a soft target, to make allegations that they cannot rebut."
Mr Dunlop said his evidence was correct other than the dates.
Before Mr Larkin, a retired auctioneer, died in May 1998, he told the tribunal he had no knowledge of corrupt planning payments.