Lawlor may face six-figure legal bill over ‘lies’

FORMER Fianna Fáil TD Liam Lawlor will find out next month if he will face a six-figure legal bill as a result of this week’s ruling by the Planning Tribunal that he had repeatedly lied in recent evidence to the inquiry.

At the start of yesterday’s hearing Mr Lawlor was told the tribunal had no further questions to ask him about his alleged role in the controversial rezoning of lands at Carrickmines in south Dublin together with political lobbyist Frank Dunlop.

The surprise decision meant Mr Lawlor was not required to give any further evidence, although the tribunal had indicated earlier in the week that examination of his knowledge about the Paisley Park/Jackson Way lands was likely to last until today.

Instead, the tribunal was adjourned until October 7 when Mr Lawlor will have the opportunity to make a submission on why he should not be liable for the cost of the recent mini-module, which examined the sale of one acre of his land in Lucan three years ago.

As a result of the tribunal’s findings that he repeatedly lied during his evidence, Mr Lawlor could also face a criminal prosecution for perjury.

It is estimated the cost of the inquiry into the Lucan property deal, which involved taking evidence from Mr Lawlor over 12 days of public hearings at Dublin Castle this summer plus several months of painstaking investigation through correspondence, could result in the former TD being hit with a large six-figure sum.

Mr Lawlor is also due before the master of the High Court next month when the tribunal is expected to seek to have the retired politician sell his property to meet a €430,000 legal bill from earlier challenges to the work of the inquiry.

Meanwhile, the tribunal heard evidence yesterday that a Fianna Fáil senator was seen at a funeral in Dublin in May 1992 at about the same time that he was accused of receiving a bribe from Mr Dunlop.

Emer McAuliffe said she was “80-90%” certain she had seen Senator Don Lydon outside a church in Sallynoggin, Co Dublin, on the morning of the funeral of her father, Seán Frost, on May 4, 1992.

Mr Dunlop has told the tribunal he visited Mr Lydon at his office at St John of God’s Hospital, Stillorgan, Co Dublin, at 9.30am on the same date.

He claimed the meeting was to pay Senator Lydon a £3,000 bribe which the politician had requested in return for his support of a motion to rezone the lands at Carrickmines.

Sen Lydon has vehemently rejected the allegations.