Lobbyist 'saw nothing wrong' with being asked to bribe people

The lobbyist Mr Frank Dunlop has said he didn't see anything wrong or odd about being asked to bribe councillors for their votes to rezone land in the 1990s.

In 1991, Mr Dunlop agreed a fee of £25,000 with businessman Mr Jim Kennedy for his efforts to get Mr Kennedy's land at Carrickmines rezoned. If successful, he was to get a success fee of £100,000. Mr John Gallagher SC, for the tribunal, said the witness was saying he involved himself in attempts to buy councillors for their votes.

"I freely, honestly and willingly accept that," Mr Dunlop replied. He was surprised now that he didn't see anything wrong with it, "but I obviously didn't". As subsequent events would show, it became "common practice".

The Paisley Park rezoning was the first in which Mr Dunlop says he paid money to councillors in return for their votes.

Yesterday, he recalled that he first became involved with the Carrickmines lands in January 1991, when he was asked by a lawyer, Mr John Caldwell, to contact Mr Jim Kennedy about the matter. He went to see Mr Kennedy at his amusement arcade on Westmoreland Street.

He was admitted via a steel door which was opened from the inside and taken to the basement, where there was a kitchen and dining area and a strongroom.

Mr Kennedy "left me in no doubt" that he owned Paisley Park, the Isle of Man company that controlled the land, Mr Dunlop said.

Mr Kennedy said there would be a proposal to have the lands rezoned and he was aware this would cost money. He said he already had an involvement with Cllr Tom Hand and said Mr Lawlor, whom he referred to as "Liam", had been helpful and would be helpful in getting the rezoning motion on the agenda and voted upon.

The witness stressed the importance of securing the support of councillors who had a "certain status" in their parties. Asked to name these figures, he listed Mr Don Lydon, Ms Betty Coffey and Mr Tony Fox of Fianna Fáil, and Ms Olivia Mitchell and Mr Liam Cosgrave of Fine Gael.

Mr Gallagher pointed out that this did not mean there was any allegation against these councillors or others who had made statements to the tribunal.

Mr Caldwell has told the tribunal he first met Mr Dunlop in 1989, but Mr Dunlop said their first meeting was in 1991. He was unable to explain a reference in his diary to a meeting in April 1990.