Dunlop denies meeting furtively

Lobbyist and former Government press secretary Frank Dunlop has denied there was anything "cloak and dagger" involved in his meetings with two Dublin county councillors in advance of their evidence to the planning tribunal about a land rezoning in north Dublin.

In testimony to the tribunal yesterday, Mr Dunlop accepted that he had met Michael Joe Cosgrave of Fine Gael and Liam Creaven of Fianna Fáil in March/April 2003.

However, he said these meetings were not on the dates claimed by Mr Cosgrave's former secretary, Mary Maguire, who has alleged that the former lobbyist was involved in the preparation of statements by the politicians to the tribunal.

Mr Dunlop denied he had had any discussions with Mr Cosgrave and Mr Creaven about the matters under investigation by the tribunal. Mr Dunlop said he met the two councillors in a hotel in Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, on March 26th, 2003 (not the following day as claimed by Ms Maguire).

He said the two politicians had told him that they had received letters from the tribunal about an investigation into a land rezoning.

However, Mr Dunlop said he had told the two men: "Lads, just answer the questions if you know the answers and if you don't, just tell them you don't."

He said Mr Creaven was concerned that his forthcoming appearance at the planning tribunal could adversely affect his prospects in the local elections later that year.

"Despite what you might hear, politicians are not strong people.When they get letters from the tribunal, even where there is nothing to hide, they get concerned."

Mr Dunlop said he had had three meetings with the two politicians in March/April 2003, twice in Dunshaughlin and once in Mr Cosgrave's home.

He had no recollection of a meeting in October, as claimed by Ms Maguire.

Mr Dunlop said he rejected any imputation that there was something "cloak and dagger" about the meetings and he denied that he had assisted the politicians in the preparation of statements to the tribunal.

Mr Cosgrave told the tribunal yesterday that he had given his secretary handwritten notes to type as a letter to the inquiry.

He denied that he had contributed to Mr Creaven's statement, although he said he knew it had been typed on his computer.

He said the meetings with Mr Dunlop were social gatherings and that the former lobbyist would not discuss anything about the tribunal.