The lobbyist Mr Frank Dunlop told the Flood tribunal yesterday he "couldn't afford" not to honour commitments he made to councillors to pay them for supporting efforts to rezone lands owned by Paisley Park/Jackson Way at Carrickmines in south Dublin.
Giving evidence about a cash payment of £1,000 to the Fianna Fáil councillor Mr Cyril Gallagher, he said there was "no way" he could not have fulfilled his promise to pay Mr Gallagher the money.
"I know that were that to happen the word would spread pretty rapidly that a promise was made to pay £1,000 and it was not fulfilled. People would not co-operate," he said.
Prior to a council meeting in June 1992, at which a rezoning motion would be voted on, Mr Dunlop asked for Mr Gallagher's support. "He readily agreed on the understanding that there would be a payment of £1,000," he said.
Asked how this understanding was reached, Mr Dunlop replied: "He asked for it and I agreed."
The motion was defeated by two votes. However, Mr Dunlop said he still paid Mr Gallagher the money. It was likely paid to him at a subsequent council meeting, but he couldn't be specific.
"There was no way I would have failed to fulfil that agreement," he said.
Mr Dunlop also gave evidence of passing an envelope containing £2,000 in cash to Cllr Tony Fox after a council meeting in June 1992.
Counsel queried if Mr Fox asked for the money. "Yes he did," Mr Dunlop replied.
He paid him the cash as they walked to Conways pub. "The money was in an envelope so it wasn't obvious," he said. "We went into Conways and sat down and had a libation," he said.
Asked about Mr Fox's emphatic denial that he received money in return for his vote, Mr Dunlop said he disagreed with that denial.
He said he met Mr Fox at his place of work, at the Dublin County Council offices and in Colemans pub, Rathgar. He also called to his home on a number of occasions, and once took a developer with him.
Earlier, he said it was likely he gave the late councillor Mr Jack Larkin £1,000 between June 12th and June 29th, 1992. The rezoning motion had been dealt with on June 12th.