A strategy was devised to ensure any rezoning of land in South County Dublin was to the maximum benefit to Jackson Way, the Flood tribunal heard this morning.
The elaborate scheme was devised by a number of interested parties, including Mr Frank Dunlop, county councillors and property owners, the tribunal heard.
Revisiting evidence he had already given the tribunal, the former government press secretary Mr Dunlop this morning detailed the attempts to have the route of the proposed South Eastern road fixed in 1992 so that agricultural land owned by Jackson Way would have to be rezoned. This would markedly increase the value of the lands.
Mr Dunlop claimed the plan was hatched by himself, the businessman, Mr Jim Kennedy - who is believed to be one of the beneficial owners of Jackson Way - and former Fianna Fáil TD Mr Liam Lawlor.
The tribunal also heard that in October 1997 six motions for rezoning of land in Carrickmines were put to Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown Council. Four of the motions, if passed, would have been beneficial to Jackson Way and other land owners; two motions dealt with land owned solely by the company.
The two motions put forward by councillors Mr Tony Fox and Mr Liam T. Cosgrave were proposing to rezone agricultural land owned by Jackson Way into either "E industrial" or "A1 residential".
Mr Dunlop told the tribunal that the strategy for the motions was done in this way so as to ensure that whatever the outcome, there would still be a benefit for Jackson Way.