Wright provided bank details as ‘gun was put to his head’
The inquiry heard that tribunal lawyers had first requested Mr Wright to provide explanations for a series of bank transactions totalling over £1 million in October 1991.
However, tribunal barrister Patricia Dillon SC said it had taken two years before the Dublin North TD had addressed the issue in a limited capacity for the first time. She pointed out that Mr Wright was able to provide explanations for lodgements relating to the tribunal’s current module within three days of being asked last month.
The present module is examining allegations that Mr Wright was one of four Fianna Fáil councillors who accepted bribes from the political lobbyist, Frank Dunlop in 1993. Mr Dunlop claims he paid Mr Wright £2,000 to support the rezoning of lands in north Dublin which were owned by the car dealer, Denis Mahony, and accountant, Noel Fox.
“It was only at the 11th hour, when the matter was imminent, that Mr Wright elected to provide the relevant information,” said Ms Dillon yesterday.
Asked when he now intended complying with the remainder of the requested information, Mr Wright replied: “Forthwith.”
However, Mr Wright rejected any suggestion that he used political donations to fund his personal lifestyle.
He explained that £9,500 which was transferred to a joint bank account held with his wife, Monica, during a six-month period in 1993, was used for running his constituency office and election campaigns.
Mr Wright said he could not recall what he did with £5,000 cash which he received from Mr Dunlop in November 1992.
The lobbyist claims it was one of a series of corrupt payments totalling £12,000 made to Mr Wright during the early 1990s. The TD insists that it was one of three legitimate political donations totalling £10,000 which he received from Mr Dunlop in the same period.
Under cross-examination by lawyers for Mr Mahony, Mr Wright agreed it was improbable that the car dealer would have any need to pay him money as the two men were family friends going back over 30 years.
However, he rejected suggestions by Mr Dunlop’s barrister that he had adopted a cavalier attitude to a Fianna Fáil inquiry into the issue by not providing complete information about payments he had received from developers.
