Retired council official upset at document media leak

A RETIRED council official has complained to the Flood Tribunal that confidential information relating to the planning inquiry had found its way into the media.

The tribunal heard yesterday that a former, senior executive with Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Co Council, Dermot Drumgoole and his family had become upset after a journalist called to their home last November.

Mr Drumgoole claims a journalist from the Sunday Business Post arrived unexpectedly at his house late one evening to ask him about a statement that either Frank Dunlop or Liam Lawlor had given to the tribunal.

He told the reporter that he had no knowledge about an alleged meeting he had with the two men in the council’s offices in 1997.

Mr Drumgoole wrote to the tribunal the following day to express his concern that a confidential document appeared to have found its way into the hands of at least one journalist, even though the statement had not been circulated by the inquiry’s legal team.

He also requested the tribunal to take action to prevent a similar occurrence taking place again.

Mr Dunlop has told the tribunal he accompanied Mr Lawlor to a meeting with Mr Drumgoole at the council’s temporary offices in Glasthule in 1997.

The political lobbyist claims the meeting was to discuss a planning application by Jackson Way Properties to have its lands at Carrickmines rezoned.

The tribunal has also heard allegations Mr Lawlor had a beneficial interest in the property, although they have been strenuously denied by the former Fianna Fáil TD.

Mr Drumgoole has informed the tribunal that he has no recollection of the meeting and does not believe it ever took place.

Mr Dunlop said he had no reason to fabricate an account of such a meeting. Mr Dunlop said he was “somewhat taken aback” to learn that Mr Drumgoole doubted that the meeting had taken place.

The former Government press secretary has also denied every disclosing any information about this meeting to a journalist.