During the trial which collapsed yesterday, questions were put to Frank Dunlop about whether he was revealing all he knew about corrupt payments to politicians, writes Michael Clifford.

Charges of corruption against four councillors and a businessman have been withdrawn by the State due to the medical condition of the chief prosecution witness.

Former senator and county councillor Don Lydon has been discharged from his corruption trial following legal discussions.

Former senator and county councillor Don Lydon has been discharged from his corruption trial following legal discussions.

The trial of four councillors accused of accepting bribes to rezone more than 100 acres of land has heard that the rezoning went against the advice of the then county manager.

Businessman Jim Kennedy “emphatically” denied ever giving money to ex-lobbyist Frank Dunlop, the Circuit Criminal Court has heard.

A former political lobbyist has told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that he made cash payments to county councillors to secure their votes for the rezoning of land.

The trial of five men accused of giving or receiving corrupt payments in relation to the rezoning of land in South County Dublin is due to open before a jury today.

One of the country’s leading property developers, Owen O’Callaghan was “aware of and actively engaged in” facilitating corrupt payments of almost £120,000 to politicians over a three-year period in the early 1990s, according to the Mahon Tribunal.

Developer Tom Gilmartin was a chief tribunal witness who was granted immunity from prosecution and revealed demands of corrupt payments from senior Fianna Fáil figures to facilitate the building of his retail park in Dublin.

Judge Alan Mahon’s verdict on corruption in Irish politics could not be more damning — it was deep rooted, rampant, and permeated every level.

In any movie involving dodgy payments to politicians, you need a go-between, a “bag man”. Frank Dunlop came right out of central casting.

The Mahon Tribunal has withheld publication of one section of its groundbreaking report on planning corruption as several councillors and a businessman are facing an upcoming criminal trial on related matters.

Judge Alan Mahon’s verdict on corruption in politics couldn’t be more damning – it was deep rooted, rampant and permeated every level.

The cases of four former Fianna Fáil councillors accused of corruptly receiving money are listed to be mentioned at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today.

A trial date at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has been set for a Fianna Fáil Councillor charged with corruptly receiving money.

A former Fianna Fáil councillor accused of accepting money to vote for rezoning of lands in Carrickmines in Dublin in the 1990s was today remanded on continuing bail in his absence due to poor health.

A former councillor charged with accepting money to vote for rezoning of lands in Carrickmines in Dublin in the 1990's, was remanded on bail in his absence today after a court heard he is in hospital.

Businessman Jim Kennedy, who is accused of numerous counts of corrupt payments to politicians, was served with a book of evidence today and sent forward for trial before a judge and jury.

BUSINESSMAN Jim Kennedy, who was last week charged with numerous counts of corrupt payments to politicians, was remanded on continuing bail when he appeared at Cloverhill District Court.

FORMER Fine Gael TD Liam Cosgrave Jnr was arrested and brought before court charged with receiving illegal payments linked to the controversial Carrickmines development.

A former Fine Gael politician appeared at the Dublin District Court this afternoon to face charges of taking corrupt payments in relation to rezoning of lands in Carrickmines in Dublin in the 1990's.

Businessman Jim Kennedy, who is charged with making corrupt payments to politicians, has taken up bail.

FOUR former Fianna Fáil councillors and businessman Jim Kennedy are to face a criminal trial on charges of planning corruption related to the rezoning of lands in Carrickmines, Co Dublin, during the 1990s.

BUSINESSMAN and tax exile Jim Kennedy is to face 16 charges of making corrupt payments to politicians during the 1990s in return for their votes to rezone lands owned by one of his companies, Jackson Way Properties, at Carrickmines in south Dublin.

Four former Fianna Fáil politicians and a Gibraltar-based businessman tonight appeared in court in connection with a multimillion-euro land deal alleged to be corrupt.

FORMER government press secretary Frank Dunlop has been given 18 months in prison and fined €30,000 for making corrupt payments to politicians over the rezoning of land at Carrickmines in south Dublin during the 1990s.

Former Government press secretary Frank Dunlop was today jailed for 18 months and fined €30,000 for corruption after bribing councillors to rezone land around Dublin for lucrative development deals.

Former Government press secretary Frank Dunlop will be sentenced today for bribing councillors to rezone land for development.

Former Government Press Secretary and lobbyist Frank Dunlop will be sentenced next week after detailed accounts of his bribes to county councillors were given at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Former Government press secretary Frank Dunlop will be sentenced today for five counts of corruption.

Former Government press secretary and lobbyist Frank Dunlop has pleaded guilty to bribing Dublin County Councillors to vote in favour of a land deal in the 90s.

CORK businessman Owen O’Callaghan dismissed suggestions that he handed over a total of £25,000 to two Dublin politicians on the same day 15 years ago because they had backed a big building project.

An auditor for building developer Owen O'Callaghan has told the Mahon Tribunal that she recorded certain accounts without requesting invoices as proof.

PROPERTY developer Owen O’Callaghan probably gave an innocuous explanation when asked about a IR£10,000 political donation to Dublin county councillor Colm McGrath (FF) in October 1991, the Mahon Tribunal heard yesterday.

A SENIOR executive with Cork-based property developer Owen O’Callaghan’s company Riga Ltd told the Mahon Tribunal yesterday it was “quite normal” to sign cheques without knowing why they were being paid.

A GARDA investigation ordered by former Environment Minister Michael Smith into alleged planning corruption in the Dublin area in the early 1990s drew a blank, the Mahon Tribunal heard yesterday.

PROPERTY developer Owen O’Callaghan bailed out Fianna Fáil councillor Colm McGrath — a major supporter of his Quarryvale project in west Dublin — when he couldn’t pay a debt, the Mahon Planning Tribunal heard yesterday.

ONE of Ireland’s wealthiest property developers has been refused planning permission to revamp one of Kinsale’s most noted hostelries.

FORMER Monarch property company executive Richard Lynn will deny in testimony he knew lobbyist Frank Dunlop bribed councillors for their votes, the Mahon planning tribunal was told yesterday.

POLITICAL lobbyist Frank Dunlop claims he paid the late Liam Lawlor £153,500 during a 10-year period, the Mahon planning tribunal heard yesterday.

THE Planning Tribunal has heard allegations that “a golden circle” was in operation to prevent Tom Gilmartin from developing a major shopping centre at Quarryvale in west Dublin.

A FORMER Fianna Fáil councillor has blamed alleged leaks from the Planning Tribunal for his de-selection by the party before the 1999 local elections.

A FIANNA FÁIL senator under investigation by the Flood Tribunal said he would take money from anybody, with the possible exception of gangsters, in order to get elected.