Wright ‘was paid £2,000 to rezone land’

FRANK Dunlop claims he paid Fianna Fáil TD GV Wright £2,000 to help rezone agricultural land which later sold for millions.

The former political lobbyist told the Planning Tribunal he gave the money wrapped in a newspaper to Mr Wright in the visitors' bar of Leinster House in March or April 1993 after the then senator and Dublin county councillor requested payment for signing a rezoning motion.

The rezoning of land at Drumnigh, Portmarnock in north County Dublin was one of the most contentious motions passed by Dublin County Council during the county development plan review of 1990-1993 and prompted 2,530 public objections.