High Court hears of further payments to Lawlor

Mr Liam Lawlor is facing the threat of a third term of imprisonment following revelations in the High Court of further undisclosed payments and bank accounts. Lawyers for the Flood tribunal told the court yesterday there had been "a very significant and continuing failure" by Mr Lawlor to meet his obligations to the tribunal.

They outlined 11 areas in which he has allegedly failed to provide information as required.

However, Mr Lawlor's lawyers have promised a "complete refutation" of the tribunal's claims of non-co-operation when they come to make submissions today. As late as yesterday, Mr Lawlor furnished more documents.

Mr Justice Smyth will then decide whether or not to jail the Dublin West TD for the third time in just over a year.

Mr Lawlor faces up to 2½ months imprisonment and a substantial fine if the judge decides he has not co-operated.

Mr Frank Clarke SC, for the tribunal, called on the court to take "a very serious view" of his behaviour. Mr Clarke revealed that Mr Lawlor received a total of €65,000 (£51,200) in payments from Mr Seán Mulryan and/or Ballymore Properties in the 1990s. The TD issued fake invoices, from companies which did not exist or in which he had no interest, in respect of most of the money.

Last night, Ballymore Properties said the only contribution the company had made to Mr Lawlor was €1,524 (£1,200). Three payments totalling €63,500 (£50,000) were made to two companies and related to assistance Mr Lawlor provided over property transactions in central Europe. "None of the payments relates to planning issues either in Ireland or anywhere else," the company said in a statement.

The court also heard that Mr Lawlor received a total of €15,900 (£12,500) from Mr Christopher Jones for "advice received" on the rezoning of land. Fabricated invoices were also issued in respect of these payments.

The tribunal also disclosed a €444,000 (£350,000) payment by the solicitor Mr John Caldwell to Mr Lawlor in 1995. Shortly after, a similar amount was remitted to the politician's bank account in Liechtenstein. Mr Caldwell, who has been linked to the company Jackson Way, was involved in land deals with Mr Lawlor.

The tribunal says it still doesn't know the source of the €889,000 (£700,000) lodged to the TD's accounts in Liechtenstein.

It also emerged that Mr Lawlor's son, Niall, operated a number of bank accounts on behalf of his father in the early 1990s, when the TD was under severe financial pressure.

These contained a total of €409,000 (£322,000) and were not previously disclosed.

The tribunal claims the politician has failed to disclose details of six accounts in the US.