THE Flood Tribunal has rejected an application by the family of a deceased Fine Gael councillor, Tom Hand, that it should not inquire into allegations he was involved in planning corruption.

ATTEMPTS by landowners to get property rezoned by Dublin Co Council were rarely successful without the assistance of local politicians, the Flood Tribunal heard yesterday.

FRANK Dunlop has told the Flood Tribunal he paid a total of £30,000 to nine past and present councillors in Dublin in return for their votes on controversial rezoning motions relating to lands in south Dublin during the 1990s.

BUSINESSMAN James Kennedy, who is named as one of the owners of the Jackson Way property company, has told the Flood Tribunal he will not meet with its investigators or attend hearings.

FORMER Fianna Fáil TD Liam Lawlor was central to attempts to rezone lands through the use of bribes and undue influence, according to statements Frank Dunlop has given to the Flood Tribunal.

MORE than 20 land rezoning decisions and 10 other matters of public concern are being probed by the Flood Tribunal which resumed hearings yesterday, with tens of thousands of fresh documents to examine.

BY the time the Flood Tribunal completes its latest investigation into allegations of corruption over the rezoning of lands at Carrickmines in south Dublin, John Caldwell is set to become something of a household name — like his erstwhile associates, Liam Lawlor and Frank Dunlop.

A number of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael councillors have sought legal representation at this morning's sitting of the Flood Tribunal.

THE identity of councillors named by Frank Dunlop as having taken money in return for votes on a controversial South Dublin rezoning project may become publicly known today when the Flood Tribunal resumes hearings.

OFFICIALS facing a €116 million compensation demand from a company being investigated by the Flood Tribunal have vowed to vigorously fight the claim.