Lawlor co-operation under spotlight at planning tribunal

The former Fianna Fáil TD Mr Liam Lawlor goes before the planning tribunal today and will once more be accused of failing to …

The former Fianna Fáil TD Mr Liam Lawlor goes before the planning tribunal today and will once more be accused of failing to co-operate with its investigations.

The hearing, the first under new chairman Judge Alan Mahon, could mark the start of a process that will result in Mr Lawlor being jailed for a fourth time.

He has already spent six weeks in prison arising from his entanglements with the tribunal.

Last weekend Mr Lawlor insisted, however, he had co-operated fully with the tribunal and called for the appointment of an independent inspector to adjudicate on his treatment by the inquiry.

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This morning's hearing will review Mr Lawlor's compliance with tribunal demands for full access to his financial records.

It is understood tribunal lawyers have had difficulty obtaining records from a number of overseas financial institutions.

Mr Lawlor, who has business interests in Liechtenstein and the Czech Republic, says his advisers overseas are seeking payment upfront to cover the cost of the extensive co-operation demanded by the tribunal.

He wants the tribunal to pay these bills. "The costs issue has gone centre stage for me, as well as others before the tribunal," he told The Irish Times.

Mr Lawlor went to jail three times under contempt proceedings initiated by the tribunal almost three years ago.

However, these proceedings are now exhausted and any new attempt to jail him would require a fresh application to the High Court, and a fresh set of reasons for doing so.