Lawlor hopes to make millions from Adamstown

DISGRACED former TD Liam Lawlor is still hopeful of making a multi-million euro windfall from the construction of a new town in Dublin.

He said local authority engineers would have to decide whether to use an underground sewage and draining system in Adamstown, which he part owns.

"We're all subject to their engineering expertise. So whatever is to happen will happen. I've no day-to-day involvement or interest in the matter, good, bad or indifferent," he said.

At the Mahon Tribunal in 2003, Mr Lawlor estimated that 2,000 out of the 10,000 houses planned for Adamstown would have to use the drainage system.

He said this would be worth €10 million, with his interest giving him a €2.5m share.

The town is expected to be completed within 15 years and will include three primary schools, one secondary school, a swimming pool and a railway station.

Castlethorn Construction, the main developer on the Adamstown project, has said it will be using the drainage and sewage infrastructure owned by South Dublin County Council rather than Mr Lawlor.

However, Mr Lawlor said it would be wrong to assume that he would not get a penny out of the development.

"If you put in underground infrastructure to drain land, of course you assume some day that something may come of it," he told RTÉ radio.