Lawlor was investigated by Ulster Bank

FORMER Fianna Fáil TD Liam Lawlor was the subject of a money laundering investigation by the Ulster Bank five years ago, the Planning Tribunal heard yesterday.

Details of the investigation by the bank’s Palmerstown branch emerged after tribunal lawyers said that Mr Lawlor was wrong to suggest that he had initially informed the inquiry about stg£700,000 he held in bank accounts in Liechtenstein.

Barrister Des O’Neill said the tribunal had learnt of the accounts at the Landesbank in the small Alpine state after the Ulster Bank became suspicious about a £50,000 lodgement into an account belonging to taxi-driver, John Patrick Long in 1998.