Lawlor could be facing another spell in jail

Mr Liam Lawlor, the former Fianna Fail TD, could face a renewed risk of imprisonment when the High Court today reviews his co-operation with the Flood tribunal.

As required by a court order, Mr Lawlor has submitted a substantial amount of documentation to the tribunal over the past few months. However, it is believed that the tribunal is still deeply unhappy with his level of compliance.

Earlier this year he spent seven days in jail and was fined £10,000 for failing to supply the tribunal with financial records. His legal costs were estimated at about £200,000. Mr Justice Smyth suspended the remainder of the three-month sentence imposed, but made this conditional on the provision by Mr Lawlor of all the personal records required by the tribunal.

Following a court hearing earlier this month, tribunal lawyers have drawn up a list of deficiencies in the documents filed, to which Mr Lawlor's legal team has responded. Mr Justice Smyth will then rule on what action, if any, is to be taken.

In addition to his bank records in Ireland, Mr Lawlor has filed documents relating to his business interests in the Czech Republic. The tribunal is also seeking documents which are not in his possession but are in his power of procurement, including financial documents from Liechtenstein and the Revenue Commissioners. Mr Lawlor has claimed privilege over documents which relate to contacts with his lawyers.

The tribunal is investigating allegations of payments to the Dublin West TD by the lobbyist Mr Frank Dunlop and a number of other parties. Mr Lawlor denies receiving any corrupt payments, although he acknowledges that he received more than £40,000 in consultancy fees from Mr Dunlop.

More than half the £4.6 million which has passed through Mr Lawlor's bank accounts since 1983 is unaccounted for, tribunal lawyers said last December.