Liam Lawlor ‘a key strategist’ in Quarryvale project: Dunlop

POLITICAL lobbyist Frank Dunlop claims he paid the late Liam Lawlor £153,500 during a 10-year period, the Mahon planning tribunal heard yesterday.

When payments of £36,000 made by Cork-based property developer Owen O'Callaghan are added, the total allegedly paid to Mr Lawlor between March 1991 and April 2001 amount to a minimum of £188,500.

All of these payments are to be investigated by the tribunal which is probing bribes to politicians in connection with planning matters.

Before his recent death in a Moscow car crash, Mr Lawlor had acknowledged to the tribunal having receiving a total of £85,000, including £60,000 from Mr Dunlop.

In all, tribunal lawyer

Patricia Dillon SC indicated, 12 separate payments were allegedly made to Mr Lawlor during the period.

Mr Dunlop had described Mr Lawlor as "a key strategist" in the west Dublin Quarryvale project, promoted by Mr O'Callaghan.

Ms Dillon said Mr O'Callaghan agreed Mr Lawlor provided help and assistance to him and in turn he had made payments to Mr Lawlor in recognition of this in connection with Quarryvale and the proposed national soccer stadium projects.

"Prior to his death, Mr Lawlor acknowledged receiving a minimum of £25,000 from Mr O'Callaghan, although according to Mr O'Callaghan he paid a sum of £36,000 to Mr Lawlor," said Ms Dillon.

Mr Dunlop alleges he paid £5,000 in cash to Mr Lawlor on January 21, 1991. Mr Lawlor lodged it to the bank account of his son Niall. He explained to the tribunal he used his son's account because at the time he had very serious financial difficulties "and I found it difficult to operate my normal banking arrangements as I would have wished".

Mr Dunlop used his Shefran bank account and raised six invoices to cover the Lawlor payments. The invoices described the payments as being for "professional advice, strategic communications and educational services." No VAT was included in the invoices.

Ms Dillon said Mr Lawlor's position was that Mr Dunlop used an invoice from Ganley International Ltd, describing the £25,000 payment to Mr Lawlor as being for consultancy services in the Balkans.

According to Mr Dunlop, Mr Lawlor had asked for £50,000.

In correspondence with the tribunal, Mr Lawlor described the payments from Mr Dunlop as political contributions, not consultancy fees.

Ms Dillon said Mr O'Callaghan would say the payments he made to Mr Lawlor were "proper payments".

Mr Dunlop alleges he also paid FF councillor Colm McGrath £45,700 including £10,700 on behalf of Mr O'Callaghan between May 1991 and November 1993.

Mr O'Callaghan described his payment to Mr McGrath as a bona fide political contribution.

Lawyers for Lawlor's family yesterday criticised the tribunal for telling them within a week of his tragic death they would be called as witnesses.

Ms Dillon had expressed condolences with Hazel Lawlor and her family.

Barrister Pat Russell, for Mrs Lawlor and family, said, no findings of facts had been made against Mr Lawlor at this stage.