Former government press secretary Frank Dunlop today pleaded guilty to five counts of corruption.
Dunlop (61), of Dunboyne, Co Meath, was charged last November on 16 counts of bribing Dublin county councillors in return for the rezoning of land at Carrickmines, south Dublin.
Dunlop was remanded on continuing bail after a brief hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
He is due to be sentenced on May 18th. He could face up to seven years in jail and/or a fine of €50,000.
Dunlop admitted handing over money to politicians at different locations in Dublin, including Buswell’s and Davenport hotels, both a short walk from the Dáil, and St John of God’s Hospital.
Dunlop, who wore a smart dark suit, striped shirt and burgundy tie, fiddled with his cuffs and looked around the courtroom during the short hearing. He entered a guilty plea on five sample counts.
Former senators Don Lydon, of Fianna Fáil, and Liam Cosgrave, of Fine Gael, are among those named on the charge sheet of having been corruptly given cash gifts to vote in favour of rezoning land at Carrickmines, south Dublin.
Others include Fianna Fáil councillors, Sean Gilbride, Tony Fox and Colm McGrath.
State prosecutor Sean Gillane said the Director of Public Prosecutions had accepted pleas on the sample counts, adding that further pleas on the remaining 11 charges would not be required. He told the judge the prosecution’s evidence covered a five-year period and would take up to an hour.
Dunlop’s barrister, Aiden Redmond, said his mitigation would also take up to an hour.
There was no objection to Dunlop being remanded on continuing bail.
He was arrested by members of the Criminal Assets Bureau in November and was quickly brought before Dublin District Court.
At the time, the court was told that, when charged, he replied: “We always knew this day was coming and I will not be contesting the charges.”