Statement puts Lawlor at centre of scandal

THE late Liam Lawlor has been placed at the heart of planning corruption in Dublin after the Mahon Tribunal heard yesterday that he was paid at least £153,000 in bribes by Frank Dunlop to support the controversial Quarryvale development in west Dublin.

Two senior Fianna Fáil figures Dublin North TD, GV Wright and Senator Don Lydon were also among 14 members of Dublin County Council in the early 1990s named by Mr Dunlop as receiving corrupt payments. Both had also been linked with allegations of seeking money for their votes on other controversial planning issues in earlier tribunal hearings.

Yesterday's opening statement on the Quarryvale II module read out by tribunal barrister Patricia Dillon SC revealed that the PR consultant had spent a total of £232,000 from his "war chest" of secret bank accounts on bribing politicians.