Inquiry told of O'Malley link to PD vote on rezoning

PD councillors changed their vote on rezoning lands in Dundrum, south Dublin, after former party leader Dessie O'Malley introduced them to a businessman who was involved in planning a retail development for the area, the Mahon tribunal was told yesterday.

Speaking on the Pye lands module of the tribunal's investigations into planning matters, Joseph Layden said he was introduced to councillors by the then PD leader in advance of a crucial rezoning vote which would enable commercial development of the land.

Mr Layden did not own the land at the time, but he had an interest in it in the past and had agreed to continue negotiations on its planning development.

In October 1992 the land on which the Dundrum Town Centre is built was rezoned as part of Dublin County Council's county development plan to a status which would not allow for town centre development. The rezoning was supported by PD councillors.

In 1993 Mr Layden agreed to do what he could to have the rezoning changed to accommodate the development.

Mr O'Malley introduced him to two councillors on Dublin county council - Helen Keogh and Larry Lohan.

Mr Layden told them the development was good for Dundrum and asked them to vote in favour of a motion to change the zoning "in the interests of Dundrum".

As a result, on November 2nd, 1993, all six PD representatives on the council voted to accept the new rezoning, a reversal of their 1992 vote. Fianna Fáil councillors also voted in support of it and the land was rezoned.

Questioned by counsel for the tribunal, Patricia Dillon SC, Mr Layden acknowledged that he had connections with the Fianna Fáil party, including having a "small role" in a Fianna Fáil local policy committee.

However, he said he had never offered money to councillors.

"In my contacts with politicians and public representatives, both national and local, at no time was I ever asked for a donation or a favour of any kind whatsoever," he said. "At no time did I ever offer a favour, a donation or incentive of any kind whatsoever."

Mr Layden said he was aware of allegations made by the lobbyist Frank Dunlop to the tribunal that landowner Aidan Kelly had paid €5,000 to secure the rezoning, but he said he never saw anything that would lead him to believe Mr Kelly ever contemplated payment to any councillor.

Mr Kelly is expected to give evidence in March. The tribunal will resume next Thursday to hear the Cargobridge module.